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GOAT ALLEY 



Goat Alley 



A TRAGEDY OF NEGRO LIFE 



By 

ERNEST HOWARD CULBERTSON 



S?EWAR?7T 




anQNKA-n. g & A. 



CINCINNATI 

STEWART KIDD COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY 

STEWART KIDD COMPANY 




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•AV 



6^ C^ 



i'^^ 



All rights reserved 



All acting rights, botii amateur and professional, are fully pro- 
tected under copyright law and are reserved by the author. Ap- 
plication to produce Goat Alley must be made to him, in care of 
the publishers, Stewart-Kidd Company, Cincinnati. 



OCT i I 1322 



Printed in the United States of America 
The Caxton Press 



©CUG86207 



TO 

FREDERIC AND ALICE MULHERN ROBINSON 



INTRODUCTION 

In a dingy little hall on a side street Mr. Ernest 
Howard Culbertson began rehearsals of "Goat 
Alley," his tragedy of Negro life in a Washington 
slum. The actors were, with one exception, 
amateurs — colored working people who gave their 
time and services for the sake of what they felt 
to be an artistic expression of the life of their race. 
The author had no sociological intention; he had 
no ambition to be a propagandist. He had not 
even a special interest in the racial problem. He 
thought that he had come upon an action that has 
the quality of tragic inevitableness. He thought, 
furthermore, that tragedy does not reside in pomp 
and circumstance, but in the profound realities of 
human helpfulness and human suffering, and that 
poor Lucy Belle struggling to maintain her spirit- 
ual integrity in Goat Alley was a protagonist 
worthy of the sternest art and the largest sym- 
pathy. 

He built up his action from within. He saw 
that the Negro cannot yet hope, like the white 
man, to transcend common standards. He must 
first reach them. Hence the Negro girl's struggle 
for her own integrity is not yet the struggle of 
Nora or Magda — the struggle to be true to her- 
self; it is the struggle to remain true to the man 
of her real choice. To transcend a necessary order 
one must first have achieved it. The achievement 
of social order in the moral sense is therefore the 



INTRODUCTION 



right and necessary aim of the Negro proletarian 
and the right and necessary theme of a drama 
dealing with his life. 

In the play, Lucy Belle fights valiantly her 
losing fight. Loneliness, poverty, ignorance, ter- 
ror, drive her from disaster to disaster, from one 
unwilling infidelity to another. But she never 
wavers in her soul. In her utter confusion and 
failure she kills the child that stands between her 
and all her hopes and at once expiates that action 
with her own death. Neither the subject nor the 
circumstances are new. But novelty is no mark 
of fine literature. The motives, the people, the 
place, the color of life — these are new. Every 
triangle play is a "Medea". There are subjects 
that are classical because they are native to the 
character and circumstances of mankind. Such 
is the subject of "Goat Alley". The structure is 
pure and uncompromising. No American play 
has had a finer or truer moment than that at the 
end of the second act when Lucy Belle, her lodger 
lost, her money stolen, her child crying with 
hunger, consents quietly, yet in such despair, to 
rent her vacant room to the worthless, ingratia- 
ting barber. Hauptmann would not have dis- 
dained that quiet moment of rich, tragic 
implications; Galsworthy would have approved it. 

No competent observer will fail to note here the 
evidence of an effort as serious, as intelligent, as 
sensitive to the character and quality of what 
makes tragedy as our recent theatre has produced. 

LuDwiG Lewisohn. 

New York, July, 1921. 
8 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHARACTERS 

Lucy Belle Dorsey 

Slim Dorsey 

Sam Reed 

Aunt Rebecca 

Lizzie Gibbs 

Jeff Bisbee 

Chick Avery 

Jeremiah Pocher 

Fanny Dorsey ) ^,.,, 
^ ^ > Lhtldren 

Israel Dorsey j 

Baby 

Policeman 



Goat Alley was first publicly presented at the Bijou Theatre, 
New York City, on the evening of June 20, 1921. 



ACT I 

The curtain rises on the sitting-room of a Negro's 
squalid dwelling in Goat Alley^ Washington^ 
D. C. At Right Back^ there is a door giving 
directly on the street and when it is open o?je gets 
a glimpse of the miserable^ tumble-down houses 
on the opposite side. At Left Back is a window^ 
with one pane broken and an old shirt stuffed 
in the hole. The one or two old rag-carpet rugs 
which lie on the floor serve only in a small measure 
to cover its bareness. Several old, broken and 
battered chairs stand here and there about the 
room. At Left Center is a door leading into 
the other downstairs room of the house. Between 
it and the wall. Back, is a door opening into a 
closet. 

There is another door, down Right, giving on a flight 
of stairs which lead to the one upper room of the 
house. Near the door. Left Center, and toward 
the front stands a battered table on which lie, in 
disordered array newspapers and one or two dog- 
eared books with their backs off. It is evening and 
a lighted oil lamp, with the chimney badly smoked, 
rests in the center. The wick is turned low and 
the guttering flame causes countless shadows to 
disport themselves eerily about the room. Between 
the door. Left Center, and the door, up Left, 
stands a fancy cupboard. There is a large 
easy chair between the table and the wall. Left 
II 



GOAT ALLEY 



Center. Both of these pieces of furniture look out 
of place in the room. 

Flamboyant lithographs y a gilt framed picture of 
Jack Johnson, wearing his golden smile, a framed 
engraving of Abraham Lincoln, and several gro- 
tesque crayon portraits of members of the family 
adorn the dirty and discolored walls. An old 
corset, a half -eaten roll, and a doll, with its head 
of, lie about on the floor. A horseshoe is nailed 
over the center of the door. Back. 

Aunt Rebecca, an old coal-black Negress, enters. 
Back. She wears no hat and has just a shawl 
thrown over her shoulders. She presents the ap- 
pearance of an animated mummy. Her eyes are 
small and bead-like and shine with an uncanny 
lustre; her hands are long and bony, resembling 
the talons of a hawk. She glances about inquir- 
ingly, gives an impatient grunt, then turns and 
slowly closes the door. 

AUNT REBECCA {in high-pitchcd raspy tones as she 

moves to the Center) 

Lucy Belle ! Oh, Lucy Belle ! 
LUCY BELLE {from the 7jext roorri) 

Dat yo', Aun' Becky? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yas, honey. 

LUCY BELLE 

Jes' a minute. Changin' mah skirt. 

{Aunt Rebecca drops into a chair. Left Center, and 
begins a weird and doleful chant?) 

12 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um 
— a — um — a! Trouble in mah soul! Um — a — 
um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um 
a! Trouble! {High treble) Um — a — um — a — 
um — a — um — a — um — a! Trouble in mah soul! 
Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — 
um — a! Trouble in mah soul ! Um — a — um 
a — um — a — um — a — um — a! 

{Lucy Belle enters, Left. She ' is a frail, light 
brown young Negress of about twenty-eight. She 
has a nervous, hesitant — and sometimes wistful — 
manner. She wears a plain black waist and a 
black skirt, patched in several places^ 

LUCY BELLE {feelingly, as she kisses Aunt Rebecca) 
Aun' Becky! I'se so glad ter see yo' agin! 
'Deed I is ! {Draws up a chair and sits near her.) 

AUNT REBECCA {affectionately) 
Po'ful glad ter see yo', honey! 

LUCY BELLE 

Seem like ole times — seein' yo'! Lessee — how- 
some long yo' all been 'way? 
AUNT- REBECCA {reflectively) 

Um ! Um ! {Puts a hand to her head and purses 
her lips.) Dat gin got mah haid all tangle up! 
Um! Keep tellin' G'orge whiskey suit me bettah 
— but he Hke gin. How long? Um! Um! 
Gawd-a-massy! Be a yeah in Feb-wary! 

{Lucy Belle exclaims incredulously.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Go 'long! 

13 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Sho' has! I — I was free mon's in Cumberlan' 
wid Sadie — she dat slim yallow one, yo' know — 
got a mole on dis cheek. {Indicates^ Some say 
dat de reason she so lucky. I ain' sayin'. Up 
dere mos' six mon's wid Em'ly — she dat fat 
brown gal. {Lucy Belle nods.) An' den I 
reckon 'bout fo' mon's in Frederick wid Henry. 
{Throws back her head proudly.) Henry great 
big fine lookin' niggah. Ain' so lucky, dough. 
Bawn in de da'k ob de moon. 

LUCY BELLE 

I 'member him. I 'member seein' him *roun' 
yere w'en his fader died — ole Uncle Henry, — 

AUNT REBECCA {scomjully) 

Huh! Dat niggah was'n' his fader. No, 
indeedy! Dat lil' scrootchin' monkey was'n' 
calc'lated ter be de fader ob no boy like Henry. 

{Lucy Belle gives an exclamation of surprise. 
Aunt Rebecca sits in perplexed preoccupation for 
several moments. At length she speaks very 
slowly — dragging out the words, one after an- 
other^ 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Deed chile, I kain't seem ter *member who 
Henry's fader was. Dat gin got mah haid so 
tangle up. 

LUCY BELLE 

Lot done happen since yo' been 'way. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' I know it! Don' I know it! 
14 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Fanny Dorsey^ a little Negro girl of eight, and 
Israel Dorsey, a little Negro boy of four ^ run in. 
Left.) 

FANNY 

Mamma! Yo' all gwine 'way? 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' gwine nowhar. 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! Git me some candy! 
LUCY BELLE {harshly.^ as she rises) 
Yo' all hush! I ain' gwine ter git yo' nuffin! 

FANNY 

Mamma! I wan' ter go out an* play wid Gordy! 

LUCY BELLE 

Shet up! Yo' ain' gwine ter play wid nobody! 
Git in dere an' git ter bed! Go 'long! Yo' yere 
me? {Threateningly.) Wan' me ter beat yo' ? 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! Git me — 

{Lucy Belle grabs them roughly and pushes them 
through the door. Left, closing it after them. 
Their cries are heard for several moments and 
then gradually cease.) 

LUCY BELLE {irritably) 

Some day I'se gwine ter git good an' mad an' 
knock dere haids off! 

AUNT REBECCA 

How's Sam^ — ? 
LUCY BELLE {drops down on a chair near Aunt 
Rebecca and exclaims ecstatically) 
Jes' great! Aun* Becky, he's de bes' ole budigee 
in de worl' ! 

15 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Ain' nobody got nuffin* on Sam. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' said it! Jes' as good ter me as he know 
how ter be. Do ev'ythin' I ask him. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' haf ter tell me dat. 

LUCY BELLE 

He's de onlies' niggah I evah loved. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' make 'em no bettah den Sam. 

LUCY BELLE 

He's mah honey-baby, buddy boy! 
AUNT REBECCA {with u good-Tiatured chuckk) 

Listen ter yo! 
LUCY BELLE {her fuce clouding) 

But he ain' had such good luck lately — . 

AUNT REBECCA 

Flow come dat — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

I dunno — . Till 'bout a monf ago he wuk 
steady fo de Simpson Express Company. Drive 
a wagon fo' dem. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat w'at he doin' w'en I leP. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho', sho' — . Good job, too. But de wuk gits 
slack — an' dey lets him out. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Go 'long! 

LUCY BELLE 

He try an' try ter git anoder job — but could'n' 
seem ter fin' nuffin'. Times is bad, yo' know. 
i6 



GOAT ALLEY 



Neah walk his feet off jes' seein' ef he kain't git 
somefin' by de day. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' don' say! 

LUCY BELLE 

Sam's as steady as dey make 'em. Ef he ain' 
wukkin he jes' 'bout goes crazy. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' I know it. 

LUCY BELLE 

So finally he up an' gwine ter Baltimo' — an' gits 
a job wid de Street Departmen' — diggin' 
ditches fo' wattah mains. 

AUNT REBECCA 

In Baltimo' — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, indeedy! I been at him fo' a long time ter 
go ovah dere. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' is—! 

LUCY BELLE 

Aun' Becky, dey's some niggahs 'roun' dis town 
— dat jes' watchin' dere chanct ter blackguard 
him an me — git back at us any way dey kin. 
AUNT REBECCA {with a little snort) 

Go 'long, now — w'at yo' talkin' 'bout. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dey sho' is — ! An' jes as soon as he git somefin' 
steady — an' dat pay a lil' bettah we gwine ter 
move ovah dere. 
AUNT REBECCA {with a wail) 

Gawd-a-massy, w'at yo' po' ole Aun' Becky 
gwine ter do! 

2 ly 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Be mighty sorry ter leave yo*, Aun' Becky — ! 
AUNT REBECCA {w'lth Jacctious jevvor) 

Why, chile, w'at yo' 'spose I done come back 
ter Wash'nin' fo' ? 

LUCY BELLE 

I know yo' gwine ter miss me — an' I'se gwine 
ter miss yo' — but it tain' so far away dat I kain't 
git ovah — now an' den. An' yo' kin come ovah 
an' see me — ! 
AUNT REBECCA {shaking her head) 

Lawsy, lawsy — dat's de way. Jes' as soon as 
yo' git ter likin' somebody — dey up an' gwine 
'way. 

LUCY BELLE 

It gwine ter be bes' fo' bof ob us, Aun' Becky — ! 

AUNT REBECCA 

I reckon yo' know — but jes' de same — 

LUCY BELLE 

An' — an' terday I feels mo' like we got ter git 
'way den evah. 

AUNT REBECCA 

How come dat — } 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' know Sam ain' nevah had nuffin' much ter 
do wid oder gals. 

AUNT REBECCA {with a iwd) 

He don' look like he 'ud chase 'em much. 

LUCY BELLE 

He don'! He ain' dat kin'! But — but fo' de 
las' free weeks dey's a gal dat he us ter know — 
long time ago — keep comin' 'roun' yere. 
l8 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Go 'long! 

LUCY BELLE 

Her name Lizzie Gibbs — an' she de hardes' ole 
yallow gal yo' evah seen. 

AUNT REBECCA 

She come 'roun' yere — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Sam only gits home onct or twict a week — 
mos'ly only onct. I alias goes ter de do' w'en 
he's yere — an' ef she come — he duck upstairs 
fo' she kin lay eyes on him. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Would'n' Stan' fo' nuffin' like dat! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat yo' gwine ter do? She so hard she liable 
ter do anathin'. She — she was yere dis mawnin'. 
She say she gwine ter keep comin' 'till she see 
Sam. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Gawd-a-massy ! Put de po-lice on her — ! 
LUCY BELLE {shakes her head) 

Ef I do dat, she hable ter make trouble — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Wat trouble kin she make ef dey locks her up? 

LUCY BELLE 

She might make trouble 'tween me an' Sam — 
ef she's a min' ter — 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Tween yo' an' Sam — ! Go 'long! 

LUCY BELLE 

Sam don' care no mo' fo' her den he do a rat — 
but she crazy jealous — 

19 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

'Co'se she is — an' dat's de reason — 
LUCY BELLE {touches AuYit Rebecca on the knee) 
I tell yo' why I got ter go easy wid her — till I see 
mah way out. Maybe yo' kin he'p me — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sho'— ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' see she's de onlies' one ob all dem black- 
guardin' niggahs dat uster live 'roun' me ovah 
dere in Carter Street — fo' I moves yere ter 
Goat Alley — {Breaks off and stares sombrely 
into space J or several moments ^ then proceeds with 
a slight catch in her voice.) Aun' Becky, I'se 
had it hard. Ain' nevah had much luck — 
'deed I ain' — 'cept meetin' up wid Sam agin. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' ain' nevah tol' me much 'bout yo'se'f. 

LUCY BELLE 

Nevah tol' nobody — much. Wat's de use ? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Goon! Wat's on yo* min'? 

LUCY BELLE 

Mah moder died w'en Fse fifteen — an' Pap goes 
off ter Texas an' I ain' nevah seen him since. 
Slim — mah bro'der — he was jes' a lil' kid — 
baby mos' — an' I did'n' have no oder people. 

AXNT REBECCA 

Bless yo' soul — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Done mos' anathin' I could — jes' ter make a 
livin'. Wuk in laundries, cook, wait on tables — . 
Starts gwine 'roun' wid de boys, too. Yo' know 
20 



GOAT ALLEY 



how a gal is. Meets up wid Sam an' Jeff Bisbee 
an' Ed Cales — an' a bunch-a oders like dem. 
Jeff hang 'roun' aftah me mos' all de time — an' 
Sam do, too. Sam alias a wuk steady — but 
Jeff, he nevah wukked 'less he had ter. He's 
— he a hard niggah — alias drunk, an' fightin' 
an' shootin' crap. But — well — yo' know how a 
gal is — {Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods.) He 
looks good ter me, kase he wear swell clothes, 
an' spend money free, an' boas' how many 
cops he cut. Was'n' long, dough, fo' Jeff git 
crazy jealous-a Sam — an' one day — down yere 
in Four-an'-a-ha'f Street — dey meets up an' 
has a fight. {As though somewhat thrilled by the 
memory of it.) Man-day, but dey flew at each 
oder! Like a couple-a wildcats! But de po- 
lice bus' in on 'em. Dey ketch Jeff — but Sam 
git away. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Mah soul—! 

LUCY BELLE 

Jeff gits six mon's in de wukhouse. I meets up 
wid Sam a few days aftah. Like de fool I is — 
I 'cuses him ob startin' de fight. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Hush yo' mouf ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I did'n' know who did — 'zactly — but I was sore 
kase Jeff was in jail. He been takin' me 'roun', 
yo' see — spendin' lots-a money on me — an' — 
an' — Oh, well I jes' a damn fool, kase I ain' got 
nobody ter look aftah me. {Shakes her head re- 
morsefully.) Sam gits mad — an' quits comin' 

21 



GOAT ALLEY 



'roun' ter see me. Tells me, now, dat he git de 
idea dat I didn't care nuffin' at all 'bout him. 
All de time he crazy 'bout me! {Pauses a mo- 
ment in reverent thought^ He was livin' ovah 
in M Street. Ole Yxl-lx^ Gibbs livin' dere, too. 
Dat's whar he meets up wid her. She had been 
foolin' 'roun' aftah him fo' a long time. Aftah 
dat scrap me an' him had, he gits so down in de 
mouf dat he takes up wid her fo' a while. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat ole yallaw gal yo' jes' tellin' me 'bout? 
LUCY BELLE {nodd'ing) 

Yas. But only fo' a lil' while — he say. He 
seen right away how hard she was — an' dat she 
was'n' no good — an' he draps her like a hot 
tater. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Reckon he would — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Den he decides ter beat it — an' goes off ter 
Atlanta. Stays dere five yeahs. Only come 
back yere 'bout a yeah ago. 

AUNT REBECCA 

An' yo' ain' seen him — all dat time? 

LUCY BELLE 

No. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Gawd-a-massy! 

LUCY BELLE 

But he say he was thinkin' 'bout me all de 
time! Nevah fo'git me an' nevah seen any oder 
gal dat he like bettah! {Shakes her head.) An' 
I sho' nevah did fo'git him! Ef I'd only stuck 

22 



GOAT ALLEY 



ter him. Would'n' have had ha'f de trouble I 
is. Yo' see — yo' see, aftah he'd been gone a 
while I began ter see w'at a good fellah he'd 
been. {Pauses a moment in sombre thought.) 
While Jeff was in de wukhouse I marries Ed 
Cales. He uster bootblack on de Avenue an' 
carry sample cases fo' drummers. Fo' a lil' 
while he drive a wagon fo' a white man dat run 
a meat stan' on Louisiana Avenue. But mos' 
de time he don' do nuffin' but lay 'roun de 
house. {Contemptuously.) [He wasn' no good — 
jes' a loafin', no-count niggah dat lay 'roun an* 
let a gal wuk fo' him — long as she would stan* 
fo* it. I lives wid him two yeahs. Den one day 
he say he gwine down ter Richmon' fo' a few 
days, beats it off — an* I ain* nevah seen him 
since. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' lucky ter git rid-a him so easy! 
LUCY BELLE {nodding) 

*Deed I was ! {Sighs heavily.) 'Bout free mon*s 
aftah dat I meets Jeff Bisbee ovah in Gerner's 
one day — an* — an' he walks home wid me. I'se 
livin' ovah in Carter Street den, {Gives a little 
nervous shudder.) He shoot off his mouf great. 
Tol' me how much he think-a me — an' dat I is 
de onlies' gal dat evah got him goin* — an' all 
dat kin'-a stuff. He say dat he broke — but dat 
he 'spec' ter collec' some money in a week or 
two — an* dat he don' know w'at he gwine ter 
do till den. Begs me ter let him stay dere wid 
me fo' a few days. {Drops her head and sighs.) 
I finally does. De longer he stay de harder he 

23 



GOAT ALLEY 



git, an' by-an'-by he say ef I don' let him stay 
dere all de time he gwine ter kill me. He say 
ef I call de po-\ice he gwine ter lay fo' me- — an' 
watch his chanct — night an' day — till he git me. 
Hones', I gits so scar't I did'n* hardly know 
w'at ter do. An' — an' so he keeps livin' on dere 
wid me — an' I keeps thinkin' mo' an' mo' 'bout 
Sam — an' wishin' I'd stuck ter him — an' dat I 
knowed whar he was. 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Deed, honey, I knows how yo' must-a felt. 

LUCY BELLE 

He wuk in a livery stable ovah on C Street fo' a 
while. Couldn' git him ter do nuffin' steady. 
Mos' de time he jes' lay *roun' de house an' 
guzzle gin — guzzle gin — an' w'en he ain' doin' 
dat, he out in de alley shootin' crap wid Mink 
Hall an' Slim an' dat gang. 

AUNT REBECCA 

He wuss den no-count! 

LUCY BELLE 

I was a fool, I knows — ter stick ter him. 'Deed 
I was! But Fse so scar't an' down in de mouf 
dat I ain' got good sense. {Aunt Rebecca nods 
sympathetically.) All de time Jeff keep gittin' 
harder an' harder. An' me wukkin' mah haid 
off ter feed him an* de chillen. Ev'y onct in 
while he gits mad an' beats me up. Finally I'se 
pretty neah crazy. One night w'en he's away 
I gits mah broder Slim ter come ovah an' he'p 
me. We packs ev'ythin' up an' moves ovah 
yere — an' I did'n' tell nobody whar I was 
gwine. 

24 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA ^ 

Yo' look like yo' had somefin' on yo' min' — dat 
fust day I seen yo' yere! 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed I did! {Shakes her head.) Ain' seen hide 
nor hair-a him since. {Abruptly, after a moment 
or two of troubled thought.) Yo' — yo' see, Aun* 
Becky, ef dey's anabody in de wori' dat Sam 
hate — it — it Jeff Bisbee — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sho! Sho! 

LUCY BELLE 

Hate him like poison! {Hesitatingly.) I — I ain' 
nevah tol' him dat I live wid Jeff. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' ain'—? 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' had de nerve! He know dat I married Ed 
Cales — an' I tol' him mos' ev'ythin' else — an' 
he say w'at is pas is pas'. But yo' see it was 
Jeff dat bus' him an' me up befo' — an' he call 
him de hardes' niggah in Wash'nin' — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Any way ob him findin' out — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Only ef somebody tell him. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Who know — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Slim, an' dem people in Carter Street, an' ole 
Lizzie Gibbs — 

AUNT REBECCA 

She know — ? 

25 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {noddifig) 
Sho'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Den' yo' bettah watch out — kase ef she like 
w'at yo' tell me she ain' gwine ter keep it to 
herse'f. 

LUCY BELLE 

I reckon she ain' — an' dat's w'at got me so wor- 
ried. Yo see, she yere Sam talk so much 'bout 
me dat it make her crazy jealous. Wen he 
gwine 'way ter Atlanta, she figure dat ef he come 
back he mos' likely come ter me fust. Leas'- 
ways dat w'at I think she figure. So she move 
ovah dere ter Carter Street, an' take a house 
near me, wid de idea dat maybe she kin bus' me 
an' Sam up — ef he come back. I was married 
ter Ed Cales den — but aftah while I takes up 
wid Jeff — like I done tol' yo' — an' all de time 
she's watchin' me like a hawk widout me 
knowin' it — . 

AUNT REBECCA 

Tryin' ter git somefin' on yo' — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho'! An' now — now dat she found out whar I 
live — an* dat he's back — she's comin' at me 
agin — ! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Put de /)o-lice on her! 

LUCY BELLE 

Den she boun' ter tell Sam — an' lie an' black- 
guard on me wuss den evah — ! Don' yo' see — ? 
{Twining and intertwining her fingers and staring 
26 



GOAT ALLEY 



into space with a distraught exDression.) I don' 
know w'at ter do! 

{The children suddenly give vent to shouts and can 
be heard romping wildly in the room, ojff Left.) 

LUCY BELLE {rising) 

Listen ter dem chillen — ! {Moving toward. Left.) 
'Scuse me while I puts dem ter bed. 

{Aunt Rebecca sits in a brown study.) 
AUNT REBECCA {as Lucy Belle nears the door. Left) 

Lucy Belle — ! 
LUCY BELLE {pausing) 
Yas. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Who de fader ob Fanny? 

LUCY BELLE 

Ed Cales. {Hesitatingly) Is-Israel is — is Jeff's. 

{Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle goes 
out. Left. Aunt Rebecca sits pondering for several 
moments and then begins to chant.) 

AUNT REBECCA {chanting) 

Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um 
■ — a! Trouble in mah soul! Um — a — um — a — 
um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um 
a! Trouble in mah soul ! Um — a — um — a — um 
— a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um — 
a! Trouble in mah soul ! Um — a — um — a — um 
— a — um — a — um — a — um — a ! 

{A knock sounds on the door. Back. Aunt Re- 
becca glances toward the door and gives an an- 
noyed grunt. The knock sounds again. Aunt 
27 



GOAT ALLEY 



Rebecca gets up^ grumbling to herself^ goes to the 
door and opens it. Lizzie Gibbs steps in. She is 
a large, voluptuous, mulatto woman. She has 
straight hair, high cheek bones, and large coarse 
features. Her manner is over-bearing and inso- 
lent^ 

l.YLTA'E. 

H'yo'— ? 

AUNT REBECCA {survcjing her with an air of frank 

suspicion and disapproval) 

Wat yo' wan' — ? 
LIZZIE {swaggering down toward Center with her 

hands on her hips) 

Sam Reed live yere, don' he — ? 

AUNT REBECCA 

None ob yo' bus'ness weder he do or weder he 
don'—! 
LIZZIE {savagely) 

Go 'long, yo' ole black wench! Don' yo' give 
me no back talk! {Glaring at her malevolently^ 
Don' yo 'spose I knows he live yere — ! Is he 
home? 

AUNT REBECCA {sulknly) 

Don' know. 

LIZZIE 

Whar is he — ? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' know. 

LIZZIE 

Yo' don' know nuffin', d'yo' — ? 
28 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Aunt Rebecca stands glaring fiercely at Lizzie. 
Lucy Belle can be heard in the next room speaking 
to the children.) 

Lucy Belle's yere, ain she — ? 
AUNT REBECCA {shortly) 
I reckon so. 

LIZZIE 

Tell her I wan' ter see her. 

{Aunt Rebecca hesitates for a moment^ then 
shuffles over toward the door on the left^ and goes 
out. Lizzie swaggers about the room, examining 
various objects with an expression of sardonic 
contempt. Presently Lucy Belle enters. Left — 
falteringly.) 

LIZZIE {pausing, hunching herself down on one hip, 
and gazing at Lucy Belle with an expression of 
sneering venom) 
'Lo Luce! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat yo' wan* — ? 
LIZZIE {with an explosive, sardonic laugh) 
Listen ter yo' — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I — I done tol' yo' dat I don' know whar Sam is ! 
LIZZIE {harshly) 
Look yere, gal, d'yo' think yo' puttin' somefin' 
ovah on me ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat's de Gawd's truf — I'm tellin' yo*. 

LIZZIE 

Tryin' ter make out he ain' nevah yere — ! 
29 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

He ain' — ! Hones' — 

LIZZIE 

Yo' lie — ! Yo* knows whar he is — an' w'en he 
come home as well as yo' standin' dere — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' seen him in Gawd knows w'en — ! 

LIZZIE 

People in de neighborhood tell me dey see him 

yere ev'y few days — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Dey crazy — ! Shootin' off dey moufs 'bout 
somefin' dey don' know nuffin' 'bout — ! 

LIZZIE 

Does yo' think yo' gwine ter salt him away — 
an' nevah let nobody lay eyes on him agin ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat 'ud I be doin' anathin' like dat fo' — ? 
LIZZIE {mockingly) 
Yas — w'at would yo' be doin' anathin' like dat 
fo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Nevah git away wid it — ef I did! 

LIZZIE 

An' yo' ain' gwine git away wid nuffin' like dis 
— neder! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' don' know w'at yo' talkin' 'bout — ! 

LIZZIE 

I'se knowed Sam as long as yo' is. 

LUCY BELLE 

Who say yo' ain' — ? 

30 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE 

Yo' Stan' dere an' act like somebody was gwine 
ter steal him — right from under yo' nose — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I don' know w'at yo' talkin' 'bout — ! 
LIZZIE {mockingly) 
No — yo' don' know nuffin' — ! To yere yo' talk, 
yo'd think yo' owned Sam — got him chain up 
like a dawg — ! Mah soul — ! {Vehemently.') 
Listen ter me, gal — he's an' ole frien'-a mine — 
an' I wants ter see him — 'bout some bus'ness — 
an' ef yo' know w'ats good fo' yo' — yo' bettah 
quit dis lyin' an' beatin' 'roun' de bush — an' — 

{Footsteps and whistling are heard off stage ^ Back. 
Lizzie breaks of abruptly and both stand listening. 
A moment later the door^ Back, opens and Slim 
Dorsey enters. He is a tall, slender, light-colored 
Negro of about twenty-four. He wears a cap pulled 
around so that the visor slants over one ear, and an 
old ragged suit of clothes. He glares at Lizzie and 
nods.) 

SLIM {as he slouches toward Left Center) 
'Lo Luce. 

LIZZIE {as she sidles toward the door. Back — to Lucy 
Belle) 

Yo' yered w'at I said — ! Dat goes bof ways — - 
an' all 'roun' de squah. {With a hand on the 
doorknob). Jes' remembah dat Tse knowed yo' a 
good while, too. {With drawling, veiled jnenace.) 
Is — is yo' evah tol' Sam how much yo' love 
JefFBisbee — .^ 

31 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Lucy Belle s body becomes rigid ^ she clenches 
her hands^ and speaks in a chokirtg voice.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' — yo' shet up — ! 
LIZZIE {with a bellowing, sardonic laugh) 
Ha! Ha! Why don' yo' tell him someday- — ? 

{She goes out, Back.) 

LUCY BELLE {violently) 

Damn her! I'se gwine ter break ev'y bone in 
her body — ef she keep aftah me! 

SLIM 

Wat's de mattah — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

She — she de hardes' ole gal in Wash'nin — 

SLIM 

Jes' fin' dat out — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Alias gwine 'roun' makin' trouble fo' some- 
body — ! 

SLIM 

Wat she comin' at yo' 'bout — ? 
LUCY BELLE {slowly gcts control of herself — and 
ponders for a moment) 
Oh — oh, nuffin' — ! 

SLIM 

Aftah Sam — ain' she — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

She think she is — ! 

SLIM 

Bettah watch her — I 

32 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Don' yo' worry — I is! {She goes to the window, 
Left Back, and peers out, then turns and comes 
slowly down to Center.) 

SLIM 

How is yo' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

I don' know — not so good dis week — ! 

SLIM 

Whar Sam — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Baltimo' — ! Wat d'vo' know — ? 

SLIM 

A lot. {He takes a bag of tobacco and a package 
of papers from his pocket and proceeds leisurelv 
to roll a cigarette^ 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat—? 
SLIM {as he painstakingly rolls the cigarette) 

Seen Jeff dis mawnin' — . 
LUCY BELLE {with a gasp) 

Jeff—! JeffBisbee— ! 
SLIM {with a nonchalant nod) 

Sho' nuff— ! 
LUCY BELLE {clutcMng Ms arm) 

Whar—? 

SLIM 

Bennings — . 

LUCY BELLE 

De race track — . 

SLIM 

Yas. 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Did he see yo' — ? 

SLIM 

Sho' he seen me — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Say anathin' — ? 
SLIM {nodding) 

Come up an' grab me. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd sakes — ! 

SLIM 

Wan' ter know right off whar yo' Is. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' did'n' tell him—? 

SLIM 

Wat de hell yo' take me fo' ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat did yo' do? 

SLIM 

Tol' him I did'n' know nuffin' 'bout yo'. 
LUCY BELLE {gratefully) 
Yo' did, Slim— yo' did—? 

SLIM 

Wat yo' think I is — some kin'-a fool dat has 
ter be tol' w'at ter say? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no, Slim. But I thought maybe yo' might-a 
been scar't — an' say somefin' fo' yo' think. 
SLIM {with a sneer) 
Take somebody mo' den him ter scare me. 

LUCY BELLE 

W'at did he do? 

34 



GOAT ALLEY 



SUM 

Say he gwine ter fin' yo' — he don' care how long 
it takes. 
LUCY BELLE {with tt cvy of afiguish and indignation) 
He bettah lay off me — ! 

SLIM 

Say he gwine ter bus' hell out-a yo' ef yo' don' 
come back ter him. 

LUCY BELLE 

He ain' gwine ter do nuffiin' — ! 

SLIM 

Picks up a fence rail an' comes at me — kase I 
would'n' tell him whar yo' is — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, mah Gawd! Hit yo' — ? 
SLIM {with contempt) 

Been in de undertaker's now ef he had. 

LUCY BELLE 

Did yo' bus' him — ? 

SLIM 

I picks up a brick an' dares him ter come at me. 
Mink Hall an' some of mah oder buddies comes 
'long right den an' he beats it. {With a laugh) 
Mink makes a grab fo' him an' he jumps th'u' 
a stable window. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' seen or heard-a him fo' so long — I been 
hopin' dat he gone away fo' good. 

SLIM 

Been follerin' de races — norf an' souf — fo' de 
las' yeah — so he say — an' jes' got in town yister- 
day. 

35 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

I knows he ain' been 'roun' Wash'nin'. {Twin- 
ing and intertwining her fingers^ and her gaze 
roving abstractedly about?) I don' care. He ain' 
gwine ter do nuffin'. Me an' Sam'll be livin' in 
Baltimo' soon — maybe dis time nex' monf — 

SLIM 

Watch yo'se'f — . 

LUCY BELLE 

I sho' is gwine ter! 

SLIM 

Don' go travehn' roun' at night by yo'se'f. 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 

Don' yo' worry — I ain' gwine ter take no 
chances. {A sudden look of apprehension coming 
into her face.) He gwine ter beat it right ovah 
ter Carter Street — 

SLIM 

Nobody ovah dere know whar yo' livin'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Nobody — nobody 'cept — (^S";^^ breaks of and 
stares fixedly before her.) 

SLIM 

Who—? 

LUCY BELLE 

Lizzie Gibbs. 

{Aunt Rebecca enters^ Left, and closes the door 
carefully after her.) 

AUNT REBECCA {discovering Slim) 

H'yo', Slim. 
SLIM {shortly) 

'Lo Aun' Becky. 

36 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

How is yo' ? 

SLIM 

Fine an' dandy. 
AUNT REBECCA [to Lucy Be Ik) 

Done put dem chillen ter bed fo' yo*. 
LUCY BELLE {gratefully, as she goes to her) 

Thank yo', Aun' Becky, — sartainly mighty 

good-a yo'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat's all right. Israel 'sleep already — 

LUCY BELLE 

Bof so tired dey could'n' hardly stan' up. 
{Aunt Rebecca moves toward the door. Back.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' ain' gwine — ? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Mus', chile. Jes' drap in on mah way ter de 
sto'. Oughter been on mah way long fo' dis. 

LUCY BELLE 

Wen I see yo' agin.'' 

AUNT REBECCA 

May drap in later on dis evenin'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Do, honey, please — ! 
AUNT REBECCA {in a low voice — as they pause at the 
door) 
Did'n' put nuffin' ovah on yo', did she — ^. 

LUCY BELLE 

No, indeedy! An' she ain' gwine ter! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat's talkin'! See yo' some mo'. 
37 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas. Goodbye. 

SLIM 

See yo' some mo', Aun* Becky. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Goodbye. {She goes out. Back.) 

{Lucy Belle closes the door and returns^ slowly to 
Center. Slim has dropped into a chair^ Right 
Center, and sits nonchalantly puffing away at his 
cigarette.) 

SLIM {casually) 
Luce — 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas—? 

SLIM 

I'se broke. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat ain' doin' me no good. 

SLIM 

I ain' had nuffin' ter eat since dis mawnin'. 
LUCY BELLE {irritably) 
I kain't he'p dat. 

SLIM 

Len' me a couple-a dollahs. 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' got no money ter len' ter yo*. 

SLIM 

YaSj yo' is — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Git out an* git yo'se'f a job. 

SLIM 

I is got a job. 

38 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {incredulouslj) 
Whar— ? 

SLIM 

At de race track. 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat doin'— ? 

SLIM 

Feedin' hosses an* rubbin' 'em down. 

LUCY BELLE 

Den w'at yo' come 'roun' yere askin' me fo* 
money — ? 

SLIM 

I only had it free days — an' dey don' pay till 
Saturday. 

LUCY BELLE 

I give yo' a couple-a dollahs las' Monday. 

SLIM 

Yo' 'spec' dat ter las' me a week? 

LUCY BELLE 

I keeps givin' yo' money an' givin' yo' money 
an' yo' ain' nevah pay me back a nickel. 

SLIM 

I been playin' in hard luck. 

LUCY BELLE 

So is L 

SLIM [rising) 
Yo' got money. 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' make no diff'rence weder I is or weder 
I ain'—. 

SLIM 

Ain' I jes' tol' yo' 'bout Jeff Bisbee— ? 
Z9 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

No mo' den yo' had a right ter do! 

SLIM 

I did'n' haf ter boder 'bout comin' In yere. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' be de meanes' niggah in Wash'nin' ef yo* 
had'n'! 

SLIM 

Go on — he'p me out dis time. 

LUCY BELLE 

I tol' yo' Monday dat I ain' gwine ter give yo' 

no mo' money ! 
SLIM {hotly) 

De nex' time I keep mah mouf shet! 
LUCY BELLE {angrily) 

Keep it shet! 

SLIM 

Yo' damn right I will! 

LUCY BELLE 

An' keep yo' face out-a dis house! {Harshly^ as 
she surveys him with a glare.) Yo' ain' nevah 
done nuffin' fo' me — nuffin' at all ! 

SLIM 

Yo' lie — ! Ef it had'n' been fo' me yo* been 
cleaned up a dozen times. 
LUCY BELLE {with u derisive laugh) 
Listen ter yo'! 

SLIM 

Wat *bout dat time yo's sick — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' wuk fo' a week — an'^buy de stuff we eat. 
Nevah give me a cent! 
40 



GOAT ALLEY 



SLIM 

Yo' died ef it had'n' been fo' me! 

LUCY BELLE 

Been sick a dozen times since den an' yo' ain' 
raised a han' ter he'p me! (Harshly.) Yo' ain' 
no good, Slim — an' yo' ain' nevah gwine ter be 
no good — 'less yo' change mighty quick. Yo' 
nevah keeps a job ovah a week. All yo' is good 
fo' is ter guzzle gin, shoot crap an' chase gals — 

SLIM 

Go on blackguardin' me — ef yo' lookin' fo' 
trouble ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se tellin' de truf — an* yo' knows I is! 
SLIM {loudly) 

I tol' yo' I ain' had nuffin* ter eat since dis 
mawnin'. 

LUCY BELLE 

I'll go down ter de sto' an' git some stuff. 

SLIM 

I ain' got time ter hang 'roun' yere while yo' 
cooks it. 

LUCY BELLE 

All yo' wan's dat two dollahs fo' is ter git in a 

crap game. 
SLIM {advancing toward her menacingly) 

Gimme some money! 
LUCY BELLE {defiantly) 

Nuffin' doin'! 

SLIM 

Gimme it! Yo' yere — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

I give yo' nuffin'! 

41 



GOAT ALLEY 



SLIM {grabbing her by the wrist) 

Come on ! Gimme two dollahs ! 
LUCY BELLE {fiercely) 

No, no — ! Slim — le' go! Wat's de mattah wid 

yo'! Le' go! 

SLIM 

Gimme it, or I'll twis' yo' damn arm off! {He 

slowly twists her wrist.) 
LUCY BELLE {crying out in pain and fright) 

Oh, mah Gawd! Slim! Slim! Stop — ! Le'go! 

Don'— I'll kill yo' fo' dis! 
SLIM {between his teeth) 

Git it! Git it! 

LUCY BELLE 

Slim! Fo' Gawd's sake! Oh, mah soul — don' 
— don' — {Writhing with torture, she sinks to her 
knees,) 

SLIM 

Yo' wan* me ter twis' it off — ? 
LUCY BELLE {choking with pain) 
A-all right— Stop! All right. Slim. I'll git it fo' 
yo'! 

SLIM 

Will yo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas. Stop — please — ! Lemme up — lemme 
up — Slim — 

{He slowly turns her wrist back to normal and 
relaxing his grip somewhat allows her to rise. 
She stands limp and dazed for several moments, as 
though endeavoring to pull herself together. She 
draws her free hand slowly across her forehead.) 
42 



GOAT ALLEY 



SLIM {with savage impatience) 
Come on! 

{He tightens his hold somewhat. She gives a little 
cry of pain, and her knees give. With Slim still 
gripping her wrist, she moves unsteadily to table. 
Center?) 

LUCY BELLE 

All right— all right, Slim. I'll git it fo' yo'— . 

{He drops her wrist. She opens the small drawer 
of the table and takes out an old and worn leather 
pocket hook. She extracts two one-dollar bills, 
hands them to him, then deftly stuffs the pocket 
book down in one of her stockings. Slim jams the 
hills into his pocket, turns and moves swiftly to the 
door. Back, and goes out.) 

LUCY BELLE {crying out after him) 
Yo's a dirty dog! I — I'll git yo' fo' dat — ! 

{Lucy Belle sinks down into a chair and covers 
her face with her hands. She looks up once and 
her face presents the picture of fierce, tearful rage. 
Presently a knock sounds on the door. Back. 
Lucy Belle jumps up with a start. The knock 
sounds again.) 

LUCY BELLE {in faltering tones) 
Come in! 

{The door opens and Chick Avery enters. He is a 
weak-faced, but passably good-looking mulatto, of 
about thirty-five. He wears a suit of smart clothes, 
somewhat the worse for wear. His feet are encased 
in a pair of patent leather shoes which are slit about 

43 



GOAT ALLEY 



the toes to relieve the pressure on those members. 
He is partially bald^ but what remains of his 
straight y jet-black hair is shiny from the generous 
use of hair oily and is carefully brushed to cover 
the bald spots as much as possible. His manner 
for the most part, is extremely urbane and, by Jits 
and starts, exuberantly mirthful.) 

CHICK {doing a sort of clog dance toward her) 

H'yo'j Luce — ! 
LUCY BELLE {cxclaiming in mild surprise) 

Why— why, 'lo, Chick—! 

CHICK 

How's de baby — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Pretty good, I reckon. 

CHICK 

All by yo* lonesome — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Look like it, don' it? 

CHICK 

Wat d'yo' know — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' much — ! {He puts his arm around her 
and attempts to draw her to him.) Stop yo* 
foolin' — ! {She pulls away from him.) 

CHICK 

Ain' yo' got a kiss fo' me? 

LUCY BELLE 

I'll bus' yo' in de nose, Chick Avery! 

CHICK 

Mah soul, but yo' gittin' skittish — I Flow much 
dey cos' now? 

44 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Mo' den yo' kin pay. 
CHICK {with an explosive laugh) 
Sam got yo' gwine, ain' he? 

LUCY BELLE 

Good thin's come high. 

CHICK 

Yo' said somefin'! {Sitting on the edge of the 
table.) How he makin' out in Baltimo' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Who—? 

CHICK 

Sam. 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — oh, he ain* makin' out so bad. 

CHICK 

Git home often ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Onct or twict a week — depen's on hard dey's 
wukkin' him. 

CHICK 

An' yo' stick home an' wuks yo' haid off. 

LUCY BELLE {shovtly) 

I does mah share. 

CHICK ' 

Nevah seen yo' lately w'en yo' was'n' played 
out from wukkin' yo' haid off. 
LUCY BELLE {querulously) 

None-a yo' bus'ness how hard I wuks! 
{Sharply.) Wat yo' doin* now? 

CHICK 

Barbarin'. Jes' git a job on de Norfolk boat. 

45 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

W'atdoin'? 

CHICK 

Same thin' — barbarin'. Dey's got two chairs. 
I'se gwine ter run one-a dem. Starts in nex' 
week. Got a chanct ter make some real money, 
now. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' soun' Hke a mighty good job. 
CHICK {pointedly) 

Yo' alias tied up ter some niggah dat make yo* 
wuk like hell. 

LUCY BELLE 

Shet up! Yo' don' know w'at yo' 's talkin' 
'bout. Ev'body got ter wuk hard dese days ter 
git by. 
CHICK {satirically) 
Is dey? 

LUCY BELLE 

Ef dey's any good, dey is ! W'at yo' gittin' at 
anyway? 

CHICK 

I'se alias been yo' lef han'ed budigee — . 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed yo' ain' been nuffin' but a frien'! 

CHICK 

Dat's w'at I means. {With a significant smile,) 
Ef I been yo' real budigee, I sho' nevah make 
yo' wuk like yo' is ! 
LUCY BELLE {dcHsively) 
No! Yo'd make me wuk like a dog. 

CHICK 

Not on yo' life ! 

46 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Make me git out an hussle while yo' lays home 
an' guzzle gin. 

{They both laugh explosively. Lucy Belle un- 
bends somewhat.) 

CHICK {surveying her critically) 

Yo' gittin' ole, Luce — 
LUCY BELLE {sharply) 

So is yo' ! Look at dat damned ole haid ob yo's. 

Noder yeah an' yo' won' have a hair leP. 
CHICK {gives an explosive laugh, and runs a hand 

over his head) 

Dat's no lie! {Throwing back his shoulders.) 

De older I gits de bettah I feels. 

LUCY BELLE 

So does I ! 
CHICK {pointedly) 

Been ter any dances? 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' care nuffin' 'bout dancin' no mo'. 
CHICK {with a little exclamation of incredulity) 
Uster be crazy 'bout it! 

LUCY BELLE 

Uster be crazy 'bout a lot-a thin's. 

CHICK 

Membah dat dance ob de Golden Eagle Club 
at de ole Mawnin' Star? 
LUCY BELLE {with a rcminiscent smile) 
Sho' do—! 

CHICK 

Somebody th'u* a beer bottle — 
47 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {in joyous memory) 
An miss yo' by free inches ! 

{They both laugh uproariously^ 

CHICK 

Mah soul! Dat was some night! Git home 
'bout seven o'clock in mawnin'. 

LUCY BELLE {with just a Tiote of wistjulness in her 
tones) 
Still have dances up dere? 

CHICK {exclaiming) 

Do dey? 'Bout ev'y night. {In ardent admira- 
tion.) Yo's de bes' lil' dancer I evah knowed. 

LUCY BELLE 

Go 'long! {She drops down into a chair ^ gives a 
little sigh and stares abstractedly into space.) 

CHICK 

Membah de time we goes down ter Rivahview 
an' comin' home de ole boat gits stuck on dem 
mud flats dere by de Eastern Branch — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed I does! {In ecstatic memory.) We dance 

on de deck — in de moonlight — 
CHICK {with a rapturous chuckle) 

Ole Beverly Johnson chase Mink Hall wid a 

razor — 
LUCY BELLE {laughing) 

Mink jump ovahboard an' swim ter shore! 
CHICK {laughing) 

Great day ! An' membah de fair down at — er — 

lessee — Manassas ? 
LUCY BELLE {nodding) 

Eat chicken an' duck an' co'n pone an' ice 
48 



GOAT ALLEY 



cream till I neahly bus' ! Ride on de merry-go- 
roun' — shoot de shoots — an' sing an' dance till 
I kain't hardly stan' up — ! Den dey was 
preachin' ovah in de grove at night — {She breaks 
off — lost in the romantic memory of it.) 

CHICK 

Bet yo' ain' had no times like dem since! 
LUCY BELLE {dcprecatingly) 
I was jes' a kid den. 

CHICK 

Dere's gwine ter be a dance at de Mawnin' Star 
termorrer night. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' gwine — ? 

CHICK 

Sho'! Come on an' go wid me. 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 

Nuffin' doin'. 
CHICK {earnestly) 

Come on! Wat's dis settin' 'roun' de house 

gittin' yo' — ? Jes' dis onct fo' ole times' sake. 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head more emphatically) 

Nuffin' doin', Chick. No use ter axe me. 
CHICK {slides of the table and moves to her side) 

Luce — jes' dis onct — ! 

LUCY BELLE {loudly) 

No—! 

{Pause. Chick surveys her ruefully. Lucy Belle 
glowers at him.) 

CHICK {at length) 

Den come on ovah ter Gerner's an' have a glass-a 
gin. 
4 49 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Not ternight, Chick. 

CHICK 

Yo' tired — an' it set yo' up great. 

LUCY BELLE 

Not ternight. 

CHICK 

Dey got a phonograph in de back room an' we 
kin have a couple-a lil' dances. Ef yo' kain't 
go ter de Mawnin' Star — yo' kin leas' git yo'se'f 
in a hi' dance ovah dere. 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no—! 

CHICK 

Come on! Jes' fo' ole times' sake! Good Lawd, 
yo' got ter git out an' have a lil' fun now an' 
den. Yo' kain't stick home yere all de time! 
{Puts a hand on her arm.) Come on, baby — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' doin'— ! 

{A loud knock sounds on the door, Back. Lucy 
Bell jumps up and stands listening^ 

CHICK {in a low voice) 

Who dat— ? 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 

Don' know. 

{The person outside kicks the door violently. An 
expression of dire apprehension comes into Lucy 
Belle's face. She swings about, points at the door, 
Left, and speaks in peremptory tones.) 

5° 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Git in dere a minute. 
CHICK {in loWy guarded tones as he hurries toward 
Left) 
Is it Sam — ? 

{She shakes her head. Chick goes out. Left. Lucy 
Belle, after a moment or two of deliberation, ad- 
vances warily toward the door. Back. When al- 
most there she halts again, as though debating 
whether or not to answer the door. Suddenly the 
kicking is renewed with increased vigor. Lucy 
Belle draws back shudderingly, as though to turn 
and flee. Abruptly the door opens and Jeff 
Bis bee lunges in. He slams the door shut after 
him. He is a short, stocky Negro of about thirty — 
brown in color — with a short, thick neck, a bullet 
head and a mean, leering manner^ 

LUCY BELLE {with a gasp of terror) 
Jeff-! 

JEFF 

I knowed Fd find yo' — ! {Swaying toward her 
menacingly^ Wat yo' leave me fo' ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' know why — ! 

JEFF 

Sneak off like a cat — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I was starvin' ter deaf — . 

JEFF 

Like hell yo' was! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' was'n' wukkin — . 

51 



GOAT ALLEY 



JEFF 

Yo' know why! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' did'n' want ter — ! 

JEFF 

I'll bus' yo' in de mouf! {Takes a step toward 
her.) I was havin' some hard luck den. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat's w'at yo' alias say. It was alias hard 
luck — or somefin'! 
JEFF {pulls back an arm as though to strike her) 
Yo' knows I was! Could'n' git nuffin' — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' did'n' ha'f try. 

JEFF 

Yo' lie — ! Times was hard. Look fo' a monf — 
an' could'n' fin' nuffin' — ! {As though he were 
on the point of leaping upon her and choking her.) 
Watched yo' chanct — did'n' yo' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no—! 

JEFF 

Watched yo' chanct — an' run — ! Did'n' stop 
ter figur' w'at I'd done fo' yo' — ! 
LUCY BELLE {with a crj oj derision) 
Yo' nevah done nuffin' fo' me — ! 

JEFF 

Yo' be on de streets ef it had'n' been fo' me! 
{Lucy Belle sneers audibly^ Did'n' have no mo' 
sense den a chicken — ! 



LUCY BELLE 

Ain' on 'em now, is I? 
52 



GOAT ALLEY 



JEFF 

It ain' yo' fault — ! 
LUCY BELLE {Jiev tofies gradually becoming more and 
more tremulous) 
Yo' crazy — ! 

JEFF 

Watch till mah back is tuhned — an' run ter 
anoder niggah. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' dreamin' — ! 

JEFF 

I got de dope on yo' — an' got it right — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' think yo' have — ! 

JEFF 

Yo' come yere ter Sam — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no — ! 

JEFF 

Come yere ter dat damned ole loon! Beat it 
ter de man dat git me sent up! Dat's de way 
yo' pay me back, huh — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' don' know w'at yo' talkin' 'bout — ! 

JEFF 

Livin' yere wid him — ! 

LUCY" BELLE 

No, no—! 
JEFF {savagely) 

Don' yo' go lyin' ter me — ! I knows! Yo* 
kain't put nuffin' ovah on me! {She starts to 
back away from him.) Yo' yere — ? {He grabs 
her by the arm.) 

53 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {pulHng awaj Jvom him) 

Jeff — please — 
JEFF {menacingly) 

Come yere — ! 
LUCY BELLE {getting around to the other side of the 

table) 

Jeff — please — 

JEFF 

Yo' gwine wid me — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no—! 

JEFF 

An' yo' gwine damn quick! 

LUCY BELLE 

Jeff — fo' Gawd's sake — ! 

JEFF 

I'se gwine back ter Havre de Grace in de 
mawnin' an' yo' gwine wid me — ! 
LUCY BELLE {defiantly) 

I ain' gwine nowhar wid yo' ! 

{Jefi reaches in a back pockety whips out a knife, 
snaps open the blade, and poises it in the air.) 

JEFF 

I'll cut yo* God-damn heart out! 

LUCY BELLE {terrorstrickcn as he makes a move to 
come around after her) 

Oh, mah Gawd, Jeff—! Don'— don'— ! {Puts 
a hand to her throat, and glances wildly about, 
struggling for self-control^ Jes'-a minute — 

JEFF {savagely) 
Come on — ! 

54 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Mah clothes — ! 

JEFF 

Git 'em — git 'em! 

LUCY BELLE 

An' de chillen — ! 

JEFF 

Ter hell wid dem — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Got — got ter leave 'em wid somebody. 

JEFF {sardonically) 
Leave 'em wid Sam. 

LUCY BELLE {as thougfi shc hadnt heard his re- 
mark) 

Got ter leave 'em wid somebody dat kin see 
after 'em right. 

JEFF 

Git busy den ! 
LUCY BELLE {after a moment of tense^ anguished 
deliberation) 
I — I reckon I could leave 'em wid Aun' Becky — 

JEFF 

Who she? 

LUCY BELLE 

Ole woman — live down de alley yere. 

JEFF 

Hussle. 
LUCY BELLE {after a moment of hesitancy) 

Dey're in yere. Got ter git 'em ready. {Moves 
swiftly toward the door. Left. Jeff takes a step 
or two J as though he were going to follow her. She 
pauses as she places a hand on the door knob.) 
Only take a minute. 

55 



GOAT ALLEY 



{She opens the door quickly^ slides out and closes 
it. Something about her manner and the quick- 
ness with which she closes the door rouse Jeffs 
suspicions. He stands — body tense — glaring after 
her. Absolute silence ensues. The lock in the 
door clicks. With a cry of rage Jeff leaps forward 
and tries to force the door open.) 

JEFF {ferociously) 

Open de do'! Open it — or I'll knock yo' haid 
off! Open it! {Muttering and cursing to him- 
self he puts his shoulder against it and presses 
hardy but it fails to yield.) Open up! Open up! 

{Baffledy at length he turns away, springs to Left 
Center, and grabs up a chair. Realizing, how- 
ever, that it is perhaps not quite heavy enough for 
his purpose, he slowly sets it down, stands with 
his hands resting on its back, and looks about 
in search of a more formidable weapon. Suddenly 
shouts, the footsteps of people running, and the 
noises of panicky commotion issue from the alley, 
immediately off stage, Back. It proceeds down the 
alley. Left, and the noise rapidly lessens in volume, 
and distinctness. All at once the door. Back, 
bursts open and Slim dashes in. He bangs the 
door shut after him, and stands wild-eyed and 
breathing heavily^ 

JEFF 

Wat's de mattah — ? 

SLIM {with a gulp — as he recognizes Jeff) 
Po — ^o-lice ! 

56 



GOAT ALLEY 



JEFF {lowering his voice and becoming markedly 
wary and tense) 
Po-lice — ? Who dey aftah? 

SLIM 

Raid Messer's stable — down de alley yere — 

{Someone runs heavily down the alley. Slim 
springs back and stands in a crouching attitude. 
Jef leaps over to the table and blows the light out.) 

JEFF 

Crap game — ? 

SLIM 

Yas. 

JEFF 

Git anabody? 

SLIM 

Don' know. 

{The noise and clatter recede continually , of Left. 
At length Slim advances cautiously to the door^ 
Back^ opens it and peers out. Jef goes over and 
stands near him.) 

SLIM 

At de oder end-a de alley, now. 

JEFF 

See yo' w'en yo* runs? 

SLIM 

Sho' — ! Slew-foot know me, too. He one-a 
dem. Liable ter come back dis way an' search 
ev'y house. 

{He opens the door wider and leans far out. A 
pale light filters in from Back. The silhouetted 
57 



GOAT ALLEY 



figures of the two men can be plainly seen. Jejff 
joins Slim in the doorway and peers out.) 

SLIM 

I'se gwine ter beat it. 

{Slim darts ojff down the alley y Right. Jeff stands 
tensely deliberating for several moments. Finally 
he steps out, and with a swift movement closes the 
door after him. Almost immediately the door^ 
hefty opens and a broad shaft of light falls across 
the room from the doorway ^ Left^ to the wall^ Right 
Back. Lucy Belle enters ^ followed closely by 
Chick. They leave the door open and pause ^ Right 
Back, in the full beat of the light.) 

CHICK {as they move to Right, Back) 

Oughter shot him in his tracks — ! {Taps his hip 

pocket.) 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head violently) 

I done tol' yo' dat yo' done right — stickin' dere 

an' keepin' yo' mouf shet. 
CHICK {with simulated bravado) 

Sartainly hke ter git dat bird. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd, no! Don' wan' no killin's 'roun' yere. 

CHICK 

Yo' bettah beat it. 
LUCY BELLE {breathing quickly) 
Ain' no place ter go — . 

CHICK 

Plenty ob 'em — ! Hun'erd's — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' — ain' got no strenf — ! {Draws a hand 
across her forehead.) 

58 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHICK 

Buck up! Yo' got ter git out-a yere — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — oh, Gawd! Somefin' like dis alias got ter 
happen. 

{Chick skips over to the door^ Back^ opens it and 
peers up and down the alley.) 

LUCY BELLE 

See anabody — ? 
CHICK {shaking his head) 

No. {He closes the door and returns swiftly to 
her.) He liable ter come back any minute. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' reckon so — ? 

CHICK 

Sho' as yo' bawn! 

LUCY BELLE 

I kain't go runnin' 'roun' de streets — 

CHICK 

We kin go ter some place neah. 

LUCY BELLE 

— Not feelin' like I does. 

CHICK 

Yo' ain' gwine ter stay yere an' let him kill yo'! 

LUCY BELLE 

He ain' gwine ter kill me! 

CHICK 

Damn soon see ef yo' stick yere! 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' ter see us in de street. 

CHICK 

We got a chanct ter run dere. 
59 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

He's some runner hisse'f. 

CHICK 

He ain'gwine terdo nuffin* outside — wid de cops 
aroun'. {She deliberates.) Look at yo' ! Trem- 
lin' like a leaf! 
LUCY BELLE {with a little hysterical sob) 
I know — I know — 

CHICK 

Yo' needs a good swig-a gin — 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' — ain' got a bit in de house. 

CHICK 

Come on ovah ter Gerner's — 

LUCY BELLE 

Kain't leave de chillen. 
CHICK {with a little laugh — as though recalling her 
subterfuge with Jef) 
Carry 'em ovah ter Aun' Becky's. 

LUCY BELLE 

I know — but yo' see — 

CHICK 

Yo' crazy ter stick yere — 'less yo' wan' me ter 
hang 'roun' an' plug him fo' yo' — 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' Hke dat— ! 

CHICK 

Den come on — ! Good drink set yo* up jes' 
right. 

{Lucy Belle takes a faltering step or two toward the 
door. Left. Just then someone passes the windoiv., 
Left Backy and heavy footsteps on the pavement 
60 



GOAT ALLEY 



oj the alley can be heard. Lucy Belle halts. She 
turns and faces the door^ Back. It opens and Sam 
Reed enters. He is a big powerful Negro — dark 
brown in color — and about thirty-five. He wears 
an old J torn suit of clothes ^ carries an old felt 
hat, and is without a collar. His manner is 
straight-forward, well-meaning, kindly. His 
movements and speech are deliberate — except when 
he is angry?) 

SAM {peering forward through the dim light at them) 

Luce — ! 
LUCY BELLE {with u cvy of mingled joy and agitation) 

Sam — ! 
SAM {closing the door and moving slowly down to 

Center) 

H'yo— ? 
LUCY BELLE {Icaps to Ms sidc and grabs his arm) 

Sam — Sam-boy! Jes' talkin' wid — wid Chick 

Avery yere — yo' — yo' knows Chick — 
CHICK {circumspectly) 

H'yo', Sam. 

{Sam glowers at Chick for a moment before reply- 
ing) 

SAM {at length — with ill grace) 
H'yo'—! 

LUCY BELLE 

Light de lamp, Chick. {To Sam.) Po-lice raid 
a crap game down de alley — an' — an' we puts 
out de light. 

{Chick strikes a match and lights the lamp on the 
table, Center.) 

6i 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {in eager vibrant tones of affection as 
she gazes up at him) 
Sam-boy, I'se so glad ter see yo'! How is yo'? 

SAM 

Pretty good. 

LUCY BELLE 

Did'n' hardly 'spec' yo' ternight. 

SAM 

Shower come up an' we quits early. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd bless yo' — ! {Casting about for something 
to relieve the constraint of the situation somewhat^ 
she spies his hat^ grabs it and begins to industri- 
ously dust it off with her sleeve?) Mus'-a been 
playin' football wid dis ole hat. 

SAM {with a contemptuous glance at Chick) 
I'se been doin' a man's wuk. 

LUCY BELLE {with aforced, nervous laugh) 
Been standin' on yo' haid! 

CHICK {doing a light clog dance toward the door. 
Back) 
On mah way, Luce. See yo' some mo'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat's yo' hurry — ? 

CHICK 

Got some bus'ness ter 'tend ter — ovah at 
Gerner's. {Gives an explosive laugh.) 

{Lucy Belle makes a wry face ^ and finally breaks 
into a little nervous giggle.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Goodbye, Chick. See yo' some mo'. 
62 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHICK {over his shoulder) 
See yo' some mo', Sam. 

{Sam nods glumly and grunts. Chick goes out. 
Back.) 

SAM {sharply) 
Wat he doin' 'roun* yere — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Jes' — ^jes' drap in ter say "howdy". 

SAM 

Don' wan' nobody like him hangin' 'roun'. 

LUCY BELLE 

He — he's an ole frien'-a mine. 

SAM {nodding) 

Damn pool room spoaht! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no, Sam-boy! He's a barber — an* makes 
good money. Wukkin' all de time. 

SAM 

Nevah seen a barber dat was any good. 

LUCY BELLE 

He ain' so bad. An' he don' come 'roun' yere — 
oh, only onct in a long time. {Glancing toward 
the door. Left.) We keep on talkin' like dis, dem 
chillen wake up an' make a fuss. 

{She hurries over. Left, and closes the door. Sam 
takes his pipe from his coat pocket, fumbles around 
in the other outside coat pocket, finds his bag of 
tobacco, pulls it out and begins painstakingly to 
Jill the pipe. Meanwhile he follows Lucy Belle's 
movements with an intent, questioning gaze.) 

LUCY BELLE {coming back to him) 
Honey-baby, been crazy ter see yo' — ! 

63 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM {lays his pipe on the table and takes her in his 
arms) 
Honey-baby! {Kisses her fondly^ Mah lil' gal! 

LUCY BELLE 

Seem ter me I miss yo' mo' an' mo' — ! 

SAM 

Sho' nufF— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Lonesome yere widout yo*. 
SAM {playfully^ 

Go 'long! 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 

So lonesome some days dat I don' know w'at ter 

do. 
SAM {patting her cheek) 

Po' lir baby-budigee — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Hones', kain't seem ter git uster yo' bein' away. 

SAM 

Jes' remembah dat I misses yo' as much as yo' 
does me. 

LUCY BELLE 

I know, Sam-boy — I knows yo' does! 
SAM {sits in a nearby chair and pulls her over on his 

knee) 

Tain' gwine ter be dis way long. 
LUCY BELLE {with a little cry of joy) 

Gee, w'en yo' comes home like dis — an' s'prise's 

me — 
SAM {laughing) 

Make yo' feel good — ? 

64 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Oh, Gawd — ! {Strokes his hair fondly. Some- 
one passes down the alley. She gives a start.) 

SAM 

Wat's de mattah — ? 
LUCY BELLE {making a valiant e^ort to hide her agi- 
tation) 
Nuffin— ! 

SAM 

Yo' mus' got de fidgets. 

LUCY BELLE {nodding) 

Maybe — from bein' yere nights — alone. {Plain- 
tively.) Oh — oh, Sam-boy, I don' wan' yo' ter 
go 'way no mo' ! 

SAM {with puzzled impatience) 
Wat yo' talkin' 'bout, gal.? 

LUCY BELLE 

I don' wan' yo' ter go ter Baltimo* no mo' — ! 

SAM 

Honey-baby, I got ter git back on de job! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, yo' ain' — . 

SAM 

Wat's de mattah wid yo'.? Is yo' crazy — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat ain' de onliest job in de worl' — 

SAM 

Dat don' make no diff'rence. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' kin git somefin' yere. 

SAM 

Walk de streets agin like I did las' monf? 

6 es 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Thin's ain' so slow now. 

SAM 

Slower den dey evah was! 

LUCY BELLE 

So hard on me bein' yere alone — an' wid de 
chillen. 

SAM 

Kain't he'p it, honey-baby. Jes' got ter keep 
gwine 'long like we is — 'till thin's break bettah. 

LUCY BELLE 

Wukkin' hard—? 

SAM 

Sho' is! 

LUCY BELLE 

Diggin' in de streets ain* no kind-a job fo' yo*. 

SAM 

Bettah den nuffin'. 
LUCY BELLE {feelingly^ as she strokes his hair again) 

I knows dat yo' doin' all yo' kin — ! Gawd bless 

yo' — ! But I wan's ter be wid yo', Sam-boy 

honey-baby — all de time. 
SAM {his tones vibrant with emotion) 

An' I wan's yo* wid me — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Den — le's go ter Baltimo — now — 

SAM 

Wat yo' mean — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Next week. 

SAM 

Next week — ? 

66 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Er — er maybe de week aftah. We been figurin' 
on gwine dere all 'long. But le's don' wait till 
yo' git somefin' steady. Yo' kin' alias git 
somefin'. 
SAM {turning the thing over in his mind) 
I don' know, honey — 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' yo' kin! I don' wan' ter stay yere no 
longer widout yo'. Please — ! 

SAM 

Cos' a lot ter move. 

LUCY BELLE 

We could sell off some de furn'ture — an' maybe 
jes' take rooms — 
SAM {nodding) 
Yas — perhaps. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' we could! 

SAM 

Got ter fin' de rooms fust. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat gwine ter be easy 'nufF. 

SAM 

Nex' week, yo* say — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Or de week aftah! 

SAM 

Make it de week aftah. 
LUCY BELLE {kissing him) 
Yo' will— I 

SAM 

I reckon so — ! 

67 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Gawd bless yo' — ! 

SAM 

Do — do mos' anathin' dat gwine ter make yo* 
happy! 
LUCY BELLE {embracing him) 
Honey-baby ! {Draws back suddenly and searches 
his face anxiously.) Is yo' had any suppah? 
{He smiles and shakes his head?) Co'se yo' ain'! 
Wat's de mattah wid me! Great day! 

SAM 

I ain' so hangry. 

LUCY BELLE 

Hush yo' moufj an' lemme git down ter dat 
sto'. {She grabs up a little shawl from a nearby 
chair and throws it over her head.) 

SAM 

Got any money — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

A lil', I reckon. 

{Sam reaches in his pocket, pulls out a bill and 
hands it to her.) 

SAM 

Yere. 

LUCY BELLE 

Thanks, honey. Be right back. Ef Israel hol- 
lers go in dere an' beat him. 

{Sam nods. She goes out hurriedly y Back. Sam 
reaches over on the table, picks up his pipe and 
lights it. A knock sounds on the door. Back.) 



SAM 

Come in! 

68 



GOAT ALLEY 



{The door. Back, opens and Lizzie Gibbs enters. 
Sam twists about to see who it is.) 

hVLZi^ {doing a sort of languorous muscle dance as 

she advances) 

H'yo', Sam? 
SAM {harshly — glowering at her) 

Wat yo' wan'? 
LIZZIE {unctuously) 

I draps 'roun' dis way — now an' den — ter see 

ole frien's. 
SAM {laying his pipe on the table and rising) 

Yo' does, does yo'? 

LIZZIE 

Jes' see yo* gittin* off a car down on Four-an'-a 
ha'f Street. {She waits a moment or two for him 
to speak, but he doesnt offer to proceed with the 
conversation.) How is yo'? 

SAM 

All right. 

LIZZIE 

Long time since I seen yo'. 

SAM 

Reckon it is. 

LIZZIE 

Ain' seen yo' since yo' git back from Atlanta. 

SAM 

No — yo' ain'. 

LIZZIE 

Tol' me yo' gwine down here fo' a few weeks — ! 
SAM {his manner gradually becoming defiant) 
Long as I 'spected ter stay. 

69 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE 

Yo' nevah come back! 

SAM 

Got a good job. 

LIZZIE 

Las' a long time, did'n* it? 

SAM 

Long as I wan's it! 

LIZZIE 

Nevah send me wud — or nuffin' — ! 

SAM 

Yo' knows why! 

LIZZIE 

I wish ter Gawd I did ! 

SAM 

Don' Stan' up dere — an' talk like a fool. 

LIZZIE 

Tell me — tell me — ! 

SAM 

I ain' got no time fo' no gal like yo*. 

LIZZIE 

Sam — w'at yo' got so agin me? 

SAM 

Yo' know! 

LIZZIE 

'Deed I don'! 

SAM 

I ain' studyin' 'bout no gal dat fights — an' 
raises hell — 

LIZZIE 

I know — sometimes I us ter — w'en I got mad — 
But I nevah meant no harm, Sam-boy — 
70 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

How 'bout dat time ovah at yo' sistah's? 
LIZZIE {penitently) 

I know, I know — {Lays a hand on his arm.) 

Fo'give me, Sam — ! 'Deed I did'n' mean 

nuffin' den! 
SAM {drawing away from her) 

I ain' boderin' 'bout yo', Lizz. 
LIZZIE {passionately) 

Listen, son, ain' yo' gwine ter fo'give yo' ole 

budigee ? 

SAM 

Go 'long 'bout yo' bus'ness — . 

LIZZIE 

I'll give yo' money, Sam — ! Give yo' de bes' 
eats in de worl' — ! 

SAM 

Shet up! 

LIZZIE 

Sam — ! 

SAM 

Yo' an' me done call it quits — long time ago. 
LIZZIE {collects herself gradually ^ and draws back a 
^tep or two with a sardonic leer\ 
Done pass me up, huh? 

SAM 

Yo* yered me. 

LIZZIE 

Pass me up fo* dis lil' wench. 

SAM {flaring up) 

Who yo' talkin' 'bout? 

LIZZIE 

Yo' know — ! 

71 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

Who—? 

LIZZIE 

Lucy Belle. 

SAM 

Don* yo* go blackguardin' her. 

LIZZIE 

I ain* blackguardin' nobody. 

SAM 

Den watch yo' step! 

LIZZIE 

Fell fo' her! Oh, mah Gawd! 

SAM 

Keep yo' tongue off her! 

LIZZIE 

I knows her as well as yo' do! Bettah — ! 

SAM 

Yo' don'—! 

LIZZIE 

I knowed her w'en she live ovah in Carter 
Street — 

SAM 

Carter Street — ? 
LIZZIE (with a loud, rasping laugh) 

W'en she livin' dere wid JefF Bisbee — ! 
SAM {with a shout which is a mixture of incredulity 

and menace) 

Livin' wid JefF Bisbee — ! 

LIZZIE 

Sho' ! Big as life. 

SAM 

Yo' He—! 

72 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE 

Ain' she tol' yo'? Oh, mah Gawd! {Gives a 
raucous, sardonic laugh.) Ask her — ! She'll 
tell yo' all 'bout it! I knowed yo'd fall fo' a 
wench like her! 

{The door, Back, opens and Lucy Belle enters, 
carrying several small packages. An exp7-ession 
of blank dismay floods her face upon discovering 
Lizzie.) 

LIZZIE {regarding her with an expression of leering 

vengeance) 

H'yo', Luce — ! 
LUCY BELLE {in a low, choking voice) 

'Lo— ! 

{Sam^s eyes are first upon one, then the other, in a 
gaze of fierce, tigerish scrutiny^ 

LIZZIE {with a wink and a laugh as she slouches 

toward the door. Back) 

Great lil' gal, Sam — ! 
LUCY BELLE {angrily) 

Yo'— yo'— 

LIZZIE 

Go on an' say it! I dare yo' — ! 

SAM {to Lizzie) 
Shet up ! 

LIZZIE {with a leering smile) 

So long, Sam. See yo' some mo*. {At the door. 
Back.) Good beatin' w'at she need! 

{She goes out quickly. Back. Lucy Belle advances 
to Center, and deposits her packages on the table.) 

73 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {studying Sam's face with eager, pa- 
thetic anxiety) 
Hardes' ole gal in Wash'nin'! 

SAM {fiercely) 
She say yo' live wid Jeff Bisbee — ! 

LUCY BELLE {agitatedly) 
She — she say dat — ? 

SAM {advancing quickly to her side) 
Did yo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, Sam— I— I— 

SAM 

Yo* yere me? 

LUCY BELLE 

She — she hate me like sin — ! 

SAM 

Did yo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Tryin' ter git back at me — ! 
SAM {grabs her and jerks her to his side) 
Did yo' live wid him — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, Sam-boy, honey-baby — ! Don' — 

SAM 

Did yo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE {with a sob) 

Oh — oh, Sam — I — I ain' gwine ter lie ter yo' — 

SAM {putting a hand on each of her shoulders, and 
staring down into her eyes with a look of scarce- 
believing, burning intensity) 
Took up wid dat dirty skunk — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

He made me — ! 

74 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

Yo' lie—! 

LUCY BELLE 

He did— he did! Say he kill me ef I did n'— ! 

SAM 

An' yo' let him git away wid it — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Did'n' — did'n' know w'at ter do — ! 
SAM {mockingly) 
Did'n' know w'at ter do! 

LUCY BELLE 

He kep' aftah me — an' kep' aftah me — 

SAM 

Wen — w'en ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Aftah Ed leaves me. Yo's in Atlanta. 

SAM 

An' yo' Stick yere? 

LUCY BELLE 

I was ha'f sick — an' did'n' have no money. He 
— he had me so scar't I was neah crazy. 
SAM {in anguish) 
Gawd — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Fla'f-out-a mah haid, honey — did'n' know w'at 
I was doin' — 

SAM 

Took up wid de wust niggah in de worl' — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I — I could'n' help it — 'deed I could'n' ! 

SAM 

Swo' I nevah touch anathin' or anabody dat he 
lay a fingah on. 

75 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Dat's de reason I ain' said nuffin'. 
SAM {bitterly) 
I reckon it is! 

LUCY BELLE 

I knowed how yo' hate him. 
SAM {harshly) 
Dey don' come no wuss. 

LUCY BELLE 

Treat me like a dog! 

SAM 

Wat kin'-a crazy fool is yo' ? 

LUCY BELLE 

I done tol' yo'. I was down an' out — an' scar't 
ter deaf. 

SAM {shaking his head) 
Took up wid him — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I know, I know — 

SAM 

Why did'n'yo' kill him? 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd, I wan'ed ter — ! 

SAM 

Why did'n'yo'.? 

LUCY BELLE 

Ev'y day I prays dat yo' would come back. 
An' I thinks 'bout yo' all de time. Sam-boy, 
honey-baby, dey ain' nevah been anabody but 
yo' — an' nevah will be ! {Stretching out her arms 
to him.) W'en yo' come back it seem too good 
ter be true. 

76 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

Wish I nevah come back. 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' say dat, Sam — don' — ! 

SAM 

Whar was yo' livin' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Carter Street. 

SAM 

An' he come ter yo' dere? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas. ^ 

SAM 

An' yo' let's him stay. 

LUCY BELLE 

Had ter — . {Sam gives a shorty savage laugh.) 
I — I only done w'at oder gals would-a done — 
ef dey been in mah place. I gits away de fust 
good chanct I gits. 

SAM 

How long yo' live wid him ? 

LUCY BELLE 

'Bout yeah-an'-a-ha'f. {In tender^ appealing 
tones.) Honey-baby, I loves *yo' — an' Fse loved 
yo' all de time — right from de fust. Yo' knows 
I is! Wen me an' yo' hooks up yere — yo' say 
w'at is pas' is pas'! Don' yo' membah — ? {Sam 
nods.) An' yo' say dat yo' ain' been no angel — 
an' yo' knows I ain' — 

SAM 

Did'n' know yo'd been tied up ter anabody like 
Jeff. 

77 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

I done tol' yo' why I did'n' say nuffin*. Oh, 
Sam-boy, I ain* nevah come back at yo' 'bout 
ole Lizzie Gibbs. I don' hoi' dat agin yo' — 
even ef she do blackguard an' lie on me. I ain' 
nevah said nuffin' ter yo' 'bout it. Is I ? 

SAM 

No. 

LUCY BELLE 

Den don' hoi' dis agin me. It all happen fo' me 
an' yo' hook up fo' good. It's pas' an' gone. 
Fo'give me. I ain' nevah gwine ter keep 
nuffin' back agin. Fo'give me, honey-baby — 
please fo'give me? 
SAM {takes her in his arms and kisses her passion- 
ately) 
Mah lil' baby budigee! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' does fo'give me, don' yo*? 

SAM 

Yas, yas — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I knowed yo' would. 

SAM 

Ef yo' evah has anathin' ter do wid anoder nig- 
gah I'se gwine ter kill yo'! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no, Sam — nevah agin — ! Don' yo' worry — ! 
SAM {with passionate fervor) 

I loves yo' bettah den anathin' in de worl' — ! 
LUCY BELLE {ecstatically) 

Sam-boy budigee! 

78 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

I wants ter go on wukkin' fo' yo' — 

LUCY BELLE 

Honey-baby! 

SAM 

An* w'en anathin' like dis come up — 

LUCY BELLE 

I know, I know — 

SAM 

Ef it had been anabody but Jeff — 

LUCY BELLE 

But w'at is pas' is gwine ter be pas' — ! 
SAM {repeating) 

W'at is pas' is gwine ter be pas'. An' I'se gwine 

on wukkin' fo' yo' — an' tryin' ter make yo' 

happy — 
LUCY BELLE {with a sob) 

I knows yo' is, ole Sam-boy, baby! 

SAM 

Yo's all I got in de worl'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo's all I got! 

SAM 

By-an'-by we gwine ter git nuff saved ter buy 
a lir place down neah Frederick — mah ole home. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas — ^jes' as soon as we kin — 

SAM 

An' we gwine down dere an' raise garden truck 
— an' chickens — an' live right — 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' said somefin' ! 

79 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

De chillen'll have plenty-a room ter play. An' 
I kin take a day off now an' go huntin'. {Wist- 
fully.) Still got-a lot-a possums down 'roun' 
dere. 

LUCY BELLE 

Is dey — ? 

SAM 

Heaps. {With a sigh.) Yas, indeedy! We 
gwine down dere — an' live right! 

{The footsteps of someone coming rapidly down 
the alley arrest them. Lucy Belle gives a start. 
They both listen intently. The door. Back., sud- 
denly bursts open and Jeff Bis bee dashes in. He 
halts abruptly upon discovering Sam and stares 
at him — his face distorted with rage. Sam breaks 
away from Lucy Belle and starts at him — menac- 
ingly.) 

SAM {at the top of his voice) 
Git out-a yere! 

{Lucy Belle gives a cry of anguish and fear and 
draws back^ toward Left^ cowering^ 

JEFF {drawing a knife and snapping open the blade) 
Who yo' talkin' ter? 

SAM 

Ter yo' ! 
LUCY BELLE {rushcs forwardy as though to place 
herself between them) 
Jeff — ! Fo' Gawd's sake! 

JEFF 

Thought I'd find yo' yere! 
80 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM {thunderously) 
Git out — ! 

{Jef lunges at Sam. Lucy Belle gives a blood- 
curdling shriek. The men grapple and sway 
about the room^ grunting and cursing.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, mah Gawd! Po-lice! Po-lice! Murder! 

{Sam has a firm grip on Jeff's right arm. After 
some desperate maneuvering^ Jefi contrives to 
swing it down in an attempt to stab Sam in the 
side. Sam diverts the thrust and the blade plunges 
into Jeff's side. Jeff gives a groan^ his body be- 
comes limp^ his knees sag, the muscles of his hand 
relax and the knife falls to the floor. Sam releases 
him and he staggers toward the table. Center. He 
makes a grab for it, misses it, and falls to the floor. 
He raises himself on one elbow, puts his free hand 
to his side, and lies there groaning and rolling his 
eyes. Sam and Lucy Belle stand gazing down at 
him- — terror-stricken . ) 

LUCY BELLE {in wHd, hystcrical toncs) 
Sam — run! Git out — git out fo* yo' life! 

(At this juncture a policeman dashes in, Back. 
He pauses near the door for a second, sees Jeff 
lying on the floor, turns, discovers Sam, springs 
over and grabs him.) 

CURTAIN 



8i 



ACT II 

The same as Act I — one year later. Early afternoon. 

A moment after the rise of the curtain Lucy Belle 
enters. Left, carrying her hat and jacket. She ad- 
vances to Center and lays them on the table. Her 
walk is listless and her eyes are bright with nervous 
fatigue. She glances at the alarm clock which 
stands on top of the cupboard. Left Center. The 
hands point to half-past twelve. She drops down 
in a chair to the left of the table and stares dismally 
before her. Presently she rests her elbows on her 
knees, bends forward, covers her face with her 
hands and gives way to a series of dry, racking 
sobs. 

LUCY BELLE {looking Up cvcntually with a face full 
of woe) 

Sam! Mah ole Sam-boy — come back ter me! 
Ain' yo' evah gwine ter come back? Honey- 
baby! Mah own honey-baby, buddy boy! 

{From of stage. Right, as though proceeding from 
the upstairs room come the weird, discordant, thin 
strains of a hymn played on an old wheezy organ, 
and an old Negro can be heard singing it in 
deep, unsteady tones. Lucy Belle becomes momen- 
tarily composed and sits listening as though the 
music soothed her. In the course of several mo- 
ments she rises, goes to the mirror which hangs 
on the wall. Right, and stands before it wiping 
her eyes and adjusting her hair. 
82 



GOAT ALLEY 



Presently the music stops, and someone can be 
heard coming slowly and heavily down the stairs, 
Right. Abruptly the door, Right, opens and old 
man Pocher enters. He is a very old Negro with 
white hair and a face seamed with wrinkles. His 
back is quite bent and he walks with the aid of a 
heavy, gnarled stick. His manner is a combina- 
tion of the patriarchal-Calvinistic, and that of 
the homely, old, ante-bellum house servant. He 
wears an old black suit of clothes, green with age, 
and carries an old and very dusty felt hat.) 

LUCY BELLE 

H yo', Mistah Pocher! 

POCHER 

Howdy, chile — howdy! Ain* yo' wukkin' ter- 
day? 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho'! Jes' home fo' a lil' while. Gwine back 
d'rectly. 

POCHER {with stem resentment) 

Dem boys skylarkin' agin las' night — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd sakes — ! 

POCHER 

Put salt on de do'step — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

De dirty devils — ! 

POCHER 

Secon' time dis week! Wust neighborhood I'se 
evah in! 

83 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

'Deed I'se gwine ter stay home ternight an' git 
*em. 
pocHER {fiercely) 

Git so many evil sparits 'roun' dat dey choke 
yo* ter deaf in yo' sleep. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ef dey don' stop I'se gwine ter put de ^o-lice on 
'em. 

POCHER 

Dey wuk on me night fo' las' — 

LUCY BELLE 

Who? 

POCHER 

Evil sparits! Wuk on me till I kain't hardly 
breafe. Yo' yere me wrestlin' wid 'em ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd, no! 

POCHER 

Ain' gwine ter put up wid it no longer. 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed I don' want yo' ter, Mistah Pocher. 
POCHER {vehemently) 
Ain' gwine ter! All dey is 'bout it! 

LUCY BELLE 

Boys in dis alley ain' had no bringin' up. 
POCHER {advancing to the door. Back) 

Salt on de do'step wust thin' in de worl' ter 
bring evil sparits 'roun'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, indeedy! I knows it is. 
POCHER {at the door. Back) 
Gwine down ter de sto'. Reckon I be right back. 
84 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {nodd'ing) 

Make up yo' bed fo' yo' d'rectly. 

{Pocher nods and grunts and goes outy Back, 
closing the door after him. Lucy Belle stands for a 
momenty pondering, and a thin smile plays over 
her face. At length she turns and moves listlessly 
toward the door. Right. As she reaches there, comes 
the sound of boyish shouts and laughter and the 
shuffling of feet about the door. Back. Lucy Belle 
pauses and listens. She scowls darkly, hurries to 
the door, and throws it open. This is followed im- 
mediately by the clatter of scurrying feet and 
taunting shouts as those who were about the door 
run rapidly down the alley ^ 

LUCY BELLE {standing in the doorway and shouting 
angrily after them) 

I seen yo' Jack Kramer! Yo' too, Lippy an' 
Mule! Keep away from yere or I'se gwine ter 
wring yo' damn necks! Yas, yo's — Lippy! I 
ain' scar't of none-a yo'! Quit skylarkin' 'roun' 
dis door! Sweah out-a warran' fo' yo', too! 

{She stands glaring of Left at them. Slim sud- 
denly appears from Right.) 

SLIM 

H'yo', Luce! 

LUCY BELLE {shortly, as she steps back into the 

room) 

'Lo, Slim. 
SLIM {entering. Back, and noting her ill-humor) 

Wat's de mattah? 

85 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {closing the door) 

Oh, dat Jack an' Lippy an' Mule is alias sky- 
larkin' 'roun' mah do'. 

SLIM 

Tryin' ter git back at yo' ? 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 

Makin' out ter plague ole man Pocher. 

SLIM 

Git somefin' on him? 
LUCY BELLE {nodding) 

Gits wise dat he scar't ter deaf ob evil sparits — 
an' bein' conjuhed. 

SLIM 

Sho' nufF! 

LUCY BELLE 

Lil' while aftah he rents dis room — an' been 
aftah him evah since. Puts salt on de do'step 
an' ev'thin' like dat. 

SLIM 

Bus' 'em in de haid. 

LUCY BELLE 

Do wuss' an dat ef dey keeps on. 

SLIM 

Clean up fo' 'em!. 

LUCY BELLE 

I sho' gwine ter ef dey don' lay ofF him! {In 
tones of pondering indignation and protest.) Dat 
room is hard ter rent. Ole man Pocher is kep' 
it longer den anabody. {Slim nods.) Two mon's 
dere could'n' rent it at all — an' ole Jennie 
Wurmser goes off owin' me fo' five weeks. 

SLIM 

How long Pocher been yere? 
86 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Free mon's. 

SLIM 

He sing too much. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' boderin' 'bout dat so long as I gits mah 
money ev'y Monday mawnin'. 

SLIM 

Whar he git his money? 

LUCY BELLE 

Son in New York send it ter him. I couldn' 
hardly git by now widout somefin' like dat 
comin' in reg'lar ev'y week. 

SLIM 

Wukkin' now? 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' Fse wukkin! 

SLIM 

Whar? 

LUCY BELLE 

Fo' Moy Wing — up on Seventh Street. 

SLIM 

Chink — ? {Lucy Belle nods.) W'atdoin'? 

LUCY BELLE 

Washin' an' iron'. W'at yo' think? 

SLIM 

Steady? 

LUCY BELLE 

Free times a week — Monday, We'nesday, an* 
Friday. 

SLIM 

Dat ain' no kin'-a job. 
87 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Yo' go out an' git me a bettah one. 
SLIM {with a laugh) 
Sho'— ! 

LUCY BELLE 

An' git yo'se'f one an' keep it. 

SLIM 

Been in hospital. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' ain' dere now. 

SLIM 

I git one quick 'nufF. Don' yo' worry. 

LUCY BELLE 

Git it! 

SLIM 

Deni Chinks is crazy 'bout Niggahs an' white 
people's hearts. 

LUCY BELLE 

Go 'long! 

SLIM 

Sho! Dey kills yo', cuts out yo' heart, an' eats 
it. Ef yo' eats a heart nobody kin cunjuh yo' — 
an' each one dat yo' eat give yo' a yeah's luck. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' crazy! I knowed Moy Wing 'long time. 

SLIM 

Kain't trus' none ob 'em. 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' scar't-a him. He ain* gwine ter do nuffin' 
ter me. {Shakes her head.) Onlies' kin'-a job 
dat do fo' me right now. 

SLIM 

How yo' make dat out? 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Kain't stay 'way from de chillen all de time. 
{Sighs and drops down in a chair. Draws a hand 
across her forehead.) Gawd — ! 

SLIM 

Wat's de mattah? 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se tired. Wash dis mawnin'. Got ter go back 
dis aftahnoon an' iron. 

SLIM 

Wuk yo' ter deaf. 

LUCY BELLE 

Be twict as hard ef I'se wukkin' ev'y day. {With 
a little wistful cry.) Ef — ef Sam was only yere — 
den — den I would'n' care how hard I haf ter 
wuk — or 'bout nuffin' — {Staring abstractedly 
into space.) Be a yeah de fust-a nex' monf since 
he wen' ter jail. 

SLIM 

Sho' nuff— ! 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head) 
Seem like five yeahs. 

{Pause. Lucy Belle sits staring into space. Slim 
nonchalantly rolls a cigarette.) 

SLIM 

Wat become ob Jeff.'' 

LUCY BELLE 

I'don' know. Dey nevah done nuffin' ter him. He 
was in de hospital fo* a while. He lef town soon 
as he gits out an' I ain' nevah seen him since. 
SLIM {at length, as he lights the cigarette) 
How long is Sam up fo' ? 
89 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Fo' yeahs — ! 

SLIM 

Maybe he git out sooner — fo' bein' good. Kain't 
tell. 
LUCY BELLE {jumping up with an eager cry and 
searching his face) 
Yo' — yo' think so. Slim? 

SLIM 

Dey does sometimes. 

LUCY BELLE 

How — how soon yo' think dey let him out? 

SLIM 

Don' know. Yo' nevah kain tell. 

LUCY BELLE 

Maybe in anoder yeah? 

SLIM 

Ef he have any luck. 

LUCY BELLE {clasping her hands tightly together 
and raising her eyes heavenward) 
Oh, Gawd! Ef he only do — ! I kin make out 
fo' 'noder yeah ef I keeps wukkin' fo' Moy — 
an' washin' extra yere at home like I is — an' ef I 
keeps de room rented right 'long. 

SLIM 

Yo' ain' gwine ter have no trouble. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ef Pocher only keep dat room an' pay me reg'lar. 
{Old man Pocher is heard grumbling and grunting 
to himself immediately outside the door^ off stage. 
Back?) Yere he come now! 
90 



GOAT ALLEY 



{The door^ Back^ opens and Pocher enters, carry- 
ing a small package under his arms. He stands 
in the doorway and points angrily with his cane 
at the doorstep.) 

POCHER 

Look dere! Look! Yo' see — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat—? 
POCHER {trembling with anger and fear) 
Salt on de do'step agin! 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd sakes! 

POCHER 

Tol' yo' I was'n* gwine ter put up wid it no 
longer ! 

LUCY BELLE 

I did'n' know dey done it. 

POCHER 

Yo' bus'ness ter watch 'em! 

LUCY BELLE 

I does try ter. 

POCHER 

Oughter put de po-llce on 'em long 'go. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gwine ter — right 'way. Ain' gwine ter wait 
'noder minute. 

POCHER 

Turrible! Turrible! 

LUCY BELLE 

I knows, Mistah Pocher — but — 

POCHER 

Third time in de las' two days. 
91 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {fiodding) 

■ — but, yo' see, wid de chillen an' mah oder 
wuk — 

POCHER 

Kain't he'p dat — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Kain't alias be stickin' mah haid out dat do'. 

POCHER 

Nevah seen nuffin' like it. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas — ! I'se gwine ter sweep it right off. 
{She goes to the closet door, up Lefty opens it, 
takes out a broom , closes the door and goes quickly 
to the doorway. Back, where she stands sweeping 
off the doorstep.) 

POCHER 

De spell done wuk. 

LUCY BELLE {aS shc SWCCps) 

Yo' reckon so? 

POCHER 

It wuk ef de salt stay dere two secon's. 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed, I'se sorry, Mistah Pocher. 

POCHER 

Nuffin' kin stop 'em rizin' up now. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dem boys ain' gwine ter git neah dis do' agin. 

POCHER 

Dey riz up an' riz up on yo' till de spell done 
break. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' see, I don' yere 'em ha'f de time — even 
92 



GOAT ALLEY 



w'en Tse home. Dey slips up on de sly an' 
draps it on. 

POCHER 

Yo' wan' ter die? 
LUCY BELLE {pausing in her work and turning) 
No, no — Mistah Pocher. 

POCHER 

Dem evil sparits git ter wukkin' on yo' in yo' 
sleep — 

LUCY BELLE 

I know, I know — 

POCHER 

Liable ter choke yo' ter deaf. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' don' wan' nuffin' like dat ter happen. 

POCHER 

Salt on de do'step draw 'em like syrup do flies. 

LUCY BELLE 

I know, I know — 
POCHER {shuffling over to the door^ Right) 
Ain' gwine ter put up wid it no longer! 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se gwine ter do mah bes' ter stop 'em. 
POCHER {vehemently) 

Ain' gwine ter put up wid it no longer! {He 

goes out, Right.) 
LUCY BELLE {her gaze remaining ruefully fixed on 

the door. Right) 

Ain' da.tde limit? Gawd — ! 

SLIM 

Damn ole fool. 

93 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

I sartainly gwine ter make trouble fo' somebody 
in dis alley. 

{She turns to the doorway again and completes the 
task of sweeping off the steps. This done she 
closes the door^ crosses thoughtfully to closet^ 
places the broom in it, then comes down to Left 
Center. Slim stands. Right Center, puffing away 
at his cigarette.) 

LUCY BELLE {abstractedly) 
Dey gittin' wuss lately. 

SLIM 

Done toF yo' w'at ter do. 

{Lucy Belle gives a little nod and stands lost in 
thought. Slim regards her with a look of sly, 
calculating appraisal^ 

SLIM {at length) 
Luce — • 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas— ? 

SLIM 

He'p me out a lil' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

W'at yo' mean? 

SLIM 

Lemme eat yere fo' a few days. 

LUCY BELLE 

Eat yere — ! 

SLIM 

Jes' till I gits on mah feet. 
94 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {tartly J acct'ious) 

Wat yo' standin' on — yo' han's? 

SLIM 

Gwine ter take me a week ter git goin*. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' mean a monf. 

SLIM 

Lay off me wid dat kin'-a talk. 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' doin'— ! 

SLIM 

Luce — please — 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' yered w'at I say. 

SLIM 

I'se only jes' out-a de hospital — 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' own fault yo' wen' dere. 

SLIM 

Yo' lie—! 

LUCY BELLE 

Git in a fight in Messer's stable — an' some- 
body bus' yo' ovah de haid wid a stick. 

SLIM 

Who say I did? 

LUCY BELLE 

I yered all 'bout it. 

SLIM 

Nevah raise a han' — . 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat's wa't yo' say. 

SLIM 

Gawd's truf! Nevah done a thin'. Dick Simp- 
95 



GOAT ALLEY 



son an' Mink Hall start ter fight — an' fust 
thin' I knows somebody bus' me — 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' carin' 'bout w'at happen — all I knows — 

SLIM 

Luce — 

LUCY BELLE 

Done feed yo' all I'se gwine ter! 

SLIM 

Wan' me ter starve? 

LUCY BELLE 

Git out an' hussle — now. Yo's a lot bettah able 
den I is. 

SLIM {harshly reproachful) 
Gittin' hard as hell, ain' yo? 

LUCY BELLE 

I reckon I'se gittin' wise in mah ole age. 

SLIM 

Len' me a dollah, den. 

LUCY BELLE 

Len' yo' nuffin', Slim. 

SLIM 

Fifty cents — ! 
LUCY BELLE {emphatically y as she shakes her head) 
No—! 

SLIM 

Keep me gwine till termorrer. 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' doin'. 
SLIM {clenching his fists and coming toward her 
menacingly) 
Yo' bettah by a damn sight change yo' min' ! 

96 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {backing away) 
Yo' keep 'way from me, Slim Dorsey! 

SLIM {with a savage shout) 
Gimme a dollah — ! 

LUCY BELLE {stopping abruptly and standing her 
ground squarely) 

Die fo' I give yo' 'noder cent! {He leans for- 
ward as though to lunge at her. She steps back a 
pace.) Don' yo' dare lay a han' on me! Don' 
yo' dare! I'se gwine ter yell "Po-lice!" an' 
"Murder!" ef yo' tech me — ! 

{Old man Pocher is heard coming heavily down 
the stairSy Right. Both Slim and Lucy Belle turn 
and listen^ 

LUCY BELLE 

Sen' ole man Pocher out fo' he'p. 

{Slim hesitates Jor a moment or two, then turns and 
slinks to the door. Back.) 

SLIM {turning at the door) 

I git yo* fo' dis! 
LUCY BELLE {defiantly) 

Git me! 

{She turns and stands listening as Pocher de- 
scends the stairs. At length the door. Right, opens 
and the old man enters carrying a very old black 
leather portmanteau — so old and battered and 
scarred that it looks as though it were about to fall 
to pieces. There is fiery resolve in Pocher' s eyes. 
He gives Lucy Belle a sharp glance and makes di- 
rectly Jor the door. Back.) 

' 97 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {hesitatingly) 

H'yo', Mistah Pocher— ! 
POCHER {halting and glaring at her) 

Wat—? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' — yo' gwine 'way? 

POCHER 

Sho' Tse gwine 'way. 

LUCY BELLE 

Visit yo' son — ? 
POCHER {fiercely) 

I'se gwine ter leave dis place fo' good. 

LUCY BELLE 

Leave — fo' good — ! 

POCHER 

Tol' yo' I was'n' gwine ter put up wid dat non- 
sense no longer. 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, but, Mistah Pocher — 

POCHER 

Had er vision dat somebody gwine ter make 
dem evil sparits riz up on me agin. Pack mah 
valise dis mawnin' ter be ready. 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' gwine ter let it happen agin. 

POCHER 

Yo' say dat befo'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gwine ter de station right dis minute an' put 
de /)c-lice on 'em. 

POCHER 

Kin feel dem sparits wukkin' on me now. 
98 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Yo' kin break de spell. 

POCHER 

I'se gwine ter break it by gittin' 'way. 

LUCY BELLE 

Please, Mistah Pocher — don' go off like dis — 
POCHER {taking a step or two toward the door) 
Kain't stan' it yere no longer. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gimme anoder chanct. 
POCHER ipjiusing) 

Warn yo' ha'f er dozen times. 

LUCY BELLE 

I know — I know — 
POCHER {proceeding toward the door) 

Mus' live in peace — an' de presence ob de sparit 
ob de Lawd! 

LUCY BELLE 

Mistah Pocher — ! 
POCHER {turning and speaking in fierce tones as he 

reaches the door) 

Hush yo' talk! Done made up mah min' ter 

leave dis place! Nuffin' gwine ter stop me! 
LUCY BELLE {pulUng hersclf together and speaking 

in resigned tones) 

Ef — ef yo' feels dat way 'bout it — I reckon dey 

ain' no use. 

POCHER 

I sen' mah nephew — Joe Davis — 'roun' fo' mah 
organ. 

LUCY BELLE 

All right. 

99 



GOAT ALLEY 



POCHER 

Reckon he'll come 'roun' termorrer wid his 
wagon. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gwine ter pay me? 

POCHER 

Pay yo' fo' w'at? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' been yere free days dis week. 

{He glares at her, gives a snort, drops the port- 
manteau, thrusts a hand down in his pocket and 
brings out a small, soiled bag, tied at the top with a 
string. He unties the string. Jumbles around in the 
bag, finally pulls out a dirty, torn one-dollar bill.) 

POCHER {holding it out to her) 

Yere. 
LUCY BELLE {advancing and taking it) 

T-thanks. Might — mighty sorry yo' gwine off 

— like dis. 

{Pocher gives an impatient grunt and mumbles 
something to himself. He returns the bag to his 
pocket, picks up his portmanteau and opens the 
door.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Goodbye. 
POCHER {shortly) 
Goodbye. {He goes out. Back, closing the door 

after him.) 

{Lucy Belle gives a little despairing sigh, then re- 
turns slowly to Center, where she halts and stands 

ICX3 



GOAT ALLEY 



staring — somewhat abstractedly — down at the bill 
in her hand. Slim appears at the window^ Left 
Back, and peers in. At length Lucy Belle goes to 
the cupboard on the Left, opens one of the top 
doors y removes the lid from a crockery jar, reaches 
down in it, and takes out her pocket book. She 
opens the pocket book, extracts three one dollar 
bills, counts them carefully, places the one she has 
just received with them and returns them all to the 
pocket book. Slimes face disappears from the win- 
dow. Left Back. Lucy Belle comes thoughtfully 
back to Center with the pocket book still in her 
hand. At this juncture Israel and Fanny dash in. 
Back.) 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! Mamma! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat yo' wan' now? 

FANNY 

Mamma — ! 

ISRAEL 

Mamma, Fse hangry! 

LUCY BELLE 

Did I call yo'? 

FANNY 

No, but — 

LUCY BELLE 

Stay out dere an' play till I calls yo'! 

FANNY 

I'se hangry! 
LUCY BELLE {displaying the pocket book) 

I'se gwine down ter de mawket in jes a minute. 

lOI 



GOAT ALLEY 



FANNY 

Wen we gwine ter have dinnah? 
LUCY BELLE {impatiently) 
Jes' as soon as I kin cook it. 

ISRAEL 

Mamma — ! 
LUCY BELLE {angrily) 

Shet up, now— bof-a yo'! Wan' me ter lock 
yo' up? {Israel begins to whimper.) Yo' yere 
me? Go on out dere an' play! {The children 
hesitate.) Go 'long! Wan' me ter beat yo'? 
{They both scamper to the door. Back.) Min' 
yo' don' go out-a dis alley! 

{They go out. Back, banging the door shut after 
them. She drops her pocket book on the table, 
picks up her coat and puts it on. A light knock 
sounds on the door. Back. She starts to answer 
the door, but halts abruptly and a look of suspicion 
comes over her face. Her eyes light upon the 
pocket book. She picks it up, goes to the cupboard. 
Left, drops it in the crockery jar, puts the lid on, 
closes the cupboard door and hurries to the door. 
Back. Just as she reaches it, the knock sounds 
again. She opens it. Chick Avery stands outside.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Chick—! 
CHICK {making an obsequious bow) 
Dat's me! 

LUCY BELLE 

Come in ! 

{He enters, carrying a suit case, which he deposits 
1 02 



GOAT ALLEY 



near the door. He looks a little more spruce than 
in the preceding act and carries himself with a 
decidedly prosperous air. Lucy Belle closes the 
door, and they both come down to Center^ 

CHICK 

De boat jes' git in. 

LUCY BELLE 

It did—? 

CHICK 

Mighty good ter see yo' agin. 
LUCY BELLE {with a coy toss of her head) 
Go 'long! 

CHICK 

On mah way ter de Gran' Imperial. 
LUCY BELLE {trying to place the name) 
Gran' Imperial — ! 

CHICK 

Colored hotel ovah yere on M Street. 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — de one Jim Mumbly keep! 
CHICK {nodding) 
Yas. 

LUCY BELLE 

Uster be de Johnson House. 
CHICK {with a laugh) 

Yas, yas. Change its name ev'y monf. 

LUCY BELLE 

Is yo' stoppin' dere, now? 

CHICK 

Jes' now an' den. Git tired gwine 'way out ter 
mah broder's in G'orgetown ev'y time I'se in 
103 



GOAT ALLEY 



town. Min' ef I leave dis suit case yere till I see 
ef dey got a room at de hotel? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, indeedy! 

CHICK 

Ef dey is, I'll sen' a boy ovah fo' it — ef dey 
ain', I'll drap back an' git it an' go on out ter 
G'orgetown, — 'less yo' wan' ter put me up yere. 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat yo' talkin' 'bout? 
CHICK {sitting on the edge of the table) 
Jes' met ole man Pocher gwine down de line. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo* did—! 

CHICK 

Say he jes' give up his room. 
LUCY BELLE {removing her jacket and throwing it 
over the back of a chair) 
I reckon he tol' yo' de truf. 

CHICK 

Wat's de mattah? 

LUCY BELLE 

Boys in de alley keep aftah him all de time. 
Pesters him ter deaf. Puts salt on de do'step 
an' ev'ythin' like dat. 

CHICK 

Go 'long! 

LUCY BELLE 

Done ev'ythin' dey could ter git his goat. 

CHICK 

Hard bunch, ain' dey? 
104 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

'Deed dey is — an' I ain' had no time ter lay fo' 
'em. 

CHICK 

Mighty sorry yo' havin' dis trouble. Ef dey's 
any way I kin he'p yo' clean up fo' 'em, lemme 
know. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' nuffin' yo' kin do. I oughter put dc po-lice 
on 'em — but, yo' knows, dat gwine ter make all 
kin'-a trouble fo' me. {He nods.) Dere people 
'ud blackguard me — an' raise hell. 

CHICK 

Why don' yo' move? 
LUCY BELLE (shaking her head) 
Kain't right now. 

CHICK 

Gwine ter keep on rentin' it? 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat—? 

CHICK 

De room. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho'— ! 

CHICK 

Got anabody fo' it? 
LUCY BELLE {irritated by the assumption she should 
act so quickly) 
Wat yo' spec'? He only jes' give it up. 

CHICK 

Lemme have it. 
LUCY BELLE {measuring Mm with a withering glare) 
Fo' Gawd sakes — ! Listen ter yo' — ! 
105 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHICK 

Go ahaid! 

LUCY BELLE 

Is yo' crazy — ? 

CHICK 

I only be in it free days a week — an' I'll pay yo' 
twict as much as Pocher. 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' care e/ yo' pays me five times as much. 

CHICK 

Wat's de mattah wid yo'? I ain' got smallpox 
or nuffin' like dat — 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' knows I ain' gwine ter let yo' have dat room. 

CHICK 

Don' like mah looks — huh? 
LUCY BELLE {with a luugK) 

Sho' — dat's it. Waitin' fo' a bettah lookin' man 

ter come 'long. 
CHICK {with an explosive laugh) 

Nevah did have no luck wid de ladies. 
LUCY BELLE {in the same spirit) 

Ain' gwine ter till yo' git anoder face. 

{Chick nods and chuckles^ 

CHICK {at lengthy seriously) 
Luce — listen ter me — 

LUCY BELLE 

Chick Avery, lay off wid dat nonsense — 

CHICK 

I gits so lonesome — 
LUCY BELLE {shaking her head and scowUng) 
Nuffin' doin'. 

1 06 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHICK 

Jes' till I fin's a room 'roun' dis neighborhood 
dat suit me. 
LUCY BELLE {with mock ferocity) 
Yo' wan' me ter bus' yo' in de eye? 

CHICK 

Ain' I yo' frien'— ? 
LUCY BELLE {noddtng) 

Sho' yo' is! An' I wan's yo' ter stay mah frien'. 

{Chick grins and shakes his head, as though he re- 
garded her as an extremely difficult person to un- 
derstand^ 

CHICK {breaking into song) 
"Yo' kin break mah bones, 
Wid sticks an' stones. 
But I'se gwine ter live anahow till I die." 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' oughter be singin' fo' a livin' — 'stead-a 
barbarin'. 

CHICK 

Dat's w'at ev'body tell me. 

{They both laugh explosively. Lucy Belle sits 
down.) 

CHICK {at length) 

Enjoyed yo'se'f at dat dance at de Mawnin' 
Star, did'n'yo'? 

LUCY BELLE 

Sho' did—! 

CHICK 

Glad yo' wen', now. ain' yo'? 
107 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

I reckon so. 

CHICK 

Yo' knows so! 

LUCY BELLE 

Anaway yo* says. 

CHICK 

Had ter beg yo* long nufF ter git yo* ter go. 

LUCY BELLE 

I was'n' feelin* so good jes' den. 

CHICK 

*Noder dance up dere Saturday night. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' don' say — 

CHICK 

Big or-;^<?jtra an' plenty ter drink. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' gwine — ? 

CHICK 

Sho'! Wan' ter go? 

LUCY BELLE 

Kain't. 
CHICK {impatiently) 

Sho' yo' kin. {She shakes her head.) Wat's de 
mattah wid yo' } 

LUCY BELLE 

Not dis time. 

CHICK 

Why not? Is yo' sick? 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' feelin* jes* right. 
1 08 



GOAT ALLEY 



CHICK 

Dat's wa't yo' needs — ter git out an' have a 
good time. 

LUCY BELLE 

I know — 

CHICK 

Yo' wan' ter quit wukkin' so steady. 

LUCY BELLE 

Tell me somefin' I don' know. 

CHICK 

Why don' yo'— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Why don' I quit breafin'? 

CHICK 

Yo' look ten yeahs younger at dat las' dance. 
LUCY BELLE {with a deprecating laugh) 
Wish I thought so. 

CHICK 

I'm tellin* yo' so! 

LUCY BELLE 

Did'n' feel no ten yeahs younger w'en I gits out 
on dat flo'. 

CHICK 

'Noder one up dere free weeks from nex' Satur- 
day. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dat so? 

CHICK 

Come on an' go ter dat. 
LUCY BELLE {rising) 

Kain't, Chick. 
CHICK {sliding of the table) 

Gwine ter stick home yere — all de time? 
109 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Right now, I is. 

CHICK 

Luce — is yo' sore at me? 

LUCY BELLE 

No — no, indeedy. Chick. 

CHICK 

Den w'at's de mattah? 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' — nuffin' at all. Only I jes' don' wan' 
ter go nowhars — fo' a while. 

CHICK 

An' yo* don' wan' me ter show yo' a good time ? 
{She shakes her head.) Or he'p yo' out a lil' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' wan' nobody ter he'p me out! 

{Chick springs over to her side and takes her 
forcibly in his arms.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Chick! Stop! Oh, mah Gawd— ! Yo'— ! 

CHICK 

Yo' mine — mine — ! 
LUCY BELLE {struggling frantically to free herself) 
Lemme go, Chick — ! Chick! Stop — ! 

CHICK 

Mah lil' budigee— ! Yas, yo' is! Ain' yo' 
mine! Damn yo', say yo's mine! 

LUCY BELLE 

Lemme go! Yo' wan' me ter yell, **Po-lice!" 
CHICK {savagely) 
Yo' ain' gwine ter yell nuffin'! {His arms 
no 



GOAT ALLEY 



tighten about her.) Gimme a kiss! Come on! 
Yo' yere me? 
LUCY BELLE {tuming her head away and protesting 
between gasps) 
Chick! Yo' killin' me— ! 

CHICK 

Kiss me — lovah! Yo' yere — ! Kiss me! 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, Gawd—! Chick, don'—! 

{He contrives to implant a prolonged kiss on her 
lips. At lengthy with a superhuman efort^ she 
wrenches herself free ^ and retreats to the opposite 
side of the table. Chick starts to follow her, 
whereupon she runs around to the back of the 
table^ where she stands, breathing heavily and 
weak from the struggle. Chick stands facing her 
— on the opposite side of the table and with back 
to the audience — his muscles taut, as though 
ready to lunge after her.) 

LUCY BELLE {stretching out her arms beseechingly) 
Don', Chick — oh, don' — ! Don' come at me 
like dat ! 

CHICK 

Luce — listen ter me — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Chick — ! Please — ! Sam — mah own Sam-boy 
— he's mah lovah. He's de onlies' one — now! 

CHICK 

He ain' nevah comin' back ter yo'! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, he is! De minute he git out! Yo' don' 
know Sam like I does. I got ter stick ter him — 
III 



GOAT ALLEY 



no matter weder he in jail or not. Gimme a 
chanct, Chick. Please — ! Yo' mah bes* frien' 
— nex' ter Sam. Gimme a chanct ter keep mah 
promise ter him! Don' do nuffin' dat gwine 
ter make him come back an' kill yo'! {His 
muscles relax, as though her appeal had moved 
him somewhat.) Don' — don' come at me like 
dat, Chick, ole boy — 

{He gives a little, hollow laugh, reaches in his 
pocket, brings out a package of Sweet Corporals, 
puts one in his mouth and lights it. Lucy Belle 
runs a hand over her hair, which is all dishevelled, 
then glances down at her waist.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' make a wreck ob me. 

{She moves hesitatingly to the door. Left, and 
pauses for a moment when she reaches there. He 
watches her with a narrow, tense gaze.) 

LUCY BELLE 

'Scuse me a minute. 

{She goes out. Left. Chick leans back against the 
table and smokes in sullen, contemplative silence. 
Presently a knock sounds on the door. Back. Chick 
turns his head and listens. The knock sounds 
again. He goes nonchalantly to the door and 
opens it. Aunt Rebecca stands in the doorway^ 

AUNT REBECCA {cxclaiming) 

Gawd-a-massy! Chick Avery, how is yo'? 

CHICK 

Fine and dandy. 

112 



GOAT ALLEY 



{She steps into the room. Chick closes the door.) 

AUNT REBECCA 

Still on de Norfolk boat? 

CHICK 

YaSj indeedy. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Makin' good money? 

CHICK 

Would'n' be dere ef I was'n*. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Whar's Lucy Belle? 

CHICK 

In dere. {He inclines his head toward the room, 
of Left.) 

AUNT REBECCA 

Drap in ter say howdy. {Chick, who has stood 
with his hand on the knob, opens the door again.) 
Yo' ain' gwine — ? 

CHICK 

On mah way. See yo' some mo'. 

AUNT REBECCA {shortlj) 

Goodbye. 

{He goes out, closing the door after him.) 

AUNT REBECCA {somcwhat pceved by the abruptness 

of his departure) 

Humph! No-count J like all de res' dem y allow 

niggahs {Calling.) Lucy Belle — oh, Lucy 

Belle! 
LUCY BELLE {off Stage, Left) 

Dat yo', Aun' Becky — ? 
8 113 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Sho' is, honey! 

LUCY BELLE 

Come on in yere. 

{Aunt Rebecca goes out. Left. A moment or two 
later the door. Back, opens afoot or two and Slim 
sticks his head in and looks about. Seeing no one, 
he enters stealthily and closes the door slowly and 
with extreme care. He moves cautiously to the 
chair. Left Center, on which Lucy Beliefs coat 
lies. He picks up the coat — or jacket — and goes 
rapidly through the pockets in search of her pocket 
book. Unable to find it in them, he drops the coat 
and stands in tense thought. His eyes wander 
over to the cupboard. Left. With quick, cat-like 
movements he goes to it, opens one of the top doors, 
removes the lid from a crockery jar, peers into it, 
sees nothing, removes the lid from the next one, 
peers into it, discovers the pocket book, reaches in 
■ and takes it out. He quickly extracts the four one- 
dollar bills, counts them and stuffs them in his 
pocket. He then drops the pocket book back in the 
jar, replaces the lid, and closes the door of the cup- 
board. He slips quickly across to the door. Back, 
opens it and goes out. Ln his hurry to get out he 
gives the door a little bang as he shuts it. A mo- 
ment later Lucy Belle enters. Left, with a startled, 
inquiring look and glances about ^ 

AUNT REBECCA {off Stage, Left) 
Wat's de mattah? 

LUCY BELLE 

Thought I yered somebody come in. 
114 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Aunt Rebecca enters^ Left.) 

AUNT REBECCA {glancing about) 
Jes' now? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Go 'long! 

LUCY BELLE 

Reckon I mus' been dreamin'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Wat yo' yere? 

LUCY BELLE 

Soun' like de do' shettin'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sho' don' see nobody. 
LUCY BELLE {glancing at the clock on the cupboard. 
The hands point to half -past one) 
Um! Got ter hussle. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Wukkin' dis afternoon? 
LUCY BELLE {nodding) 

Lot-a ironin' ter do. Got ter git some dinnah 

fust, dough. 
AUNT REBECCA {in suvpHse) 

Ain' yo' had yo' dinnah? 

LUCY BELLE 

No. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Gawd-a-massy! 

LUCY BELLE 

Waste a lot-a time chewin' de rag wid Chick. 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Go ahaid! Don' lemme stop yo'. 
LUCY BELLE {with a sighy as she picks up her jacket) 
Gawd — ! {Draws a hand across her forehead.) 

AUNT REBECCA 

Honey, w'at's de mattah — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — nuffin' — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' did'n' look right ter me w'en I fus' look at 
yo' — in derejes' now. 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se a lir tired — dat's all, I reckon. 
AUNT REBECCA {stepping over and observing Lucy 
Belle closely) 
Why, honey, yo' all nervous an' trembly — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, I ain', Aun' Becky — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' is ! Now, listen ter me — don' yo' go ter wuk 
dis aftahnoon. 

LUCY BELLE 

Got ter! 

AUNT REBECCA 

No yo' ain'! Wat yo' talkin' 'bout? 

LUCY BELLE 

Put Moy in a hole ef I don'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Don' make no diff'rence. 

LUCY BELLE 

'Spose ter deliver mos'-a dem clothes termorrer. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' good healf come fust. 
ii6 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Liable ter git sore an' git somebody else ef I 

don' show up. 
AUNT REBECCA {wtth a snort) 

Wat d'yo' care? Let him! Dat ole Chink 

ain' got de onlies' job in de worl'. 
LUCY BELLE {shakcs her head) 

Ain' got no time ter go 'roun' lookin' fo' some- 
fin' else right now. 
AUNT REBECCA {impatiently) 

Yo' nevah take no 'vice. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, I does, Aun' Becky, but — 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' don' — ! Yo' be in bed ef yo' ain' careful. 
LUCY BELLE {in Conciliatory tones) 

'Deed, I got ter git back dere dis aftahnoon. 
AUNT REBECCA {shuffiing grumpHy toward door. 

Back) 

Go ahaid, den. Git yo'se'f some dinnah fo' yo' 

do, dough. 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se sho' gwine ter! Reckon I feel bettah aftah 
I gits a lir somefin' ter eat. {Following Aunt 
Rebecca to the door.) Come ovah dis evenin ! 

AUNT REBECCA 

I don' know — 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, please, Aun' Becky. 
AUNT REBECCA {at the door) 
Wat time? 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — oh, 'bout eight o'clock. 
117 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA {nodding) 
See yo' some mo'. 

LUCY BELLE 

See yo' some mo*. 

{Aunt Rebecca goes out^ Back. Lucy Belle puts 
on her jacket. She goes to the cubpoardy Left^ opens 
the top dooTy removes the lid from the crockery jar, 
reaches in and gets her pocket book. Something 
about its flatness rouses her curiosity. She casu- 
ally opens it. A look of tragic dismay comes over 
her face as she discovers that the money is missing.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh, Gawd! 

{She fumbles about in the jar again, then searches 
through her pockets. It suddenly comes over her that 
she has been robbed. She stands staring dumbly 
before her with an expression of anguish and 
despair. Israel and Fanny run in, Back.) 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! J'se hangry! 

FANNY 

Wen we gwine ter have dinnah? 
LUCY BELLE {with a sob) 
Hush up! 

FANNY 

Yo' said yo'd have it right 'way. 

ISRAEL 

Mamma — ain' yo' gwine ter hurry? 
LUCY BELLE {in a choking voice) 
Yas, yas — Mamma's gwine right out — 
ii8 



GOAT ALLEY 



{She is suddenly seized with a spell of dizziness. 
She sways unsteadily for a moment or two ^finally 
collapses and sinks heavily down on a chair. The 
children scream and run to her side. She places 
one hand against the table^ grips the back of the 
chair with the other and manages to hold herself 
up.) 

LUCY BELLE {in Weak, disjointed toncs) 

Israel, son— hush! Yo' yere me — ? Mamma's 
gwine ter be all right. Fanny! Git me glass-a 
watah. {The girl hesitates.) Go on! Quick! 

{Fanny runs off. Left.) 

ISRAEL {crying) 

Mamma! Yo' — yo' gwine ter die? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Hush up! 

{He clings to her sobbingly. Fanny enters. Left, 
with the glass of water and hurries to her mother's 
side.) 

LUCY BELLE {to Israel) 

Son! Mamma gwine ter beat yo' ef yo' don' 
stop! 

FANNY 

Yere, Mamma! 

{The child hands Lucy Belle the glass of water. 
She drinks it slowly.) 

LUCY BELLE {half to hcrsclf) 

Gawd, dat tas' good. {She gradually revives. At 
length, as she sets the glass on the tabled Listen 
119 



GOAT ALLEY 



ter me, yo' chillen. Wan' yo' bof ter run up 
ter Moy Wing's. Yo' yere me? [They nod.) 
Run up dere — an' tell him dat Mamma gwine 
ter be late. Go ahaid, now. Beat it! {They 
hang back, still sobbing.) Go on! {They run to 
the door. Back.) Say dat he — he bettah git 
somebody ter he'p me out — I Understan' — ? 

FANNY 

Yassum. 

LUCY BELLE 

Beat it now! 

{They go out. Back, closing the door after them. 
Lucy Belle, weak and completely unnerved, sits 
staring tragically before her. At length a knock 
sounds on the door. Back.) 

LUCY BELLE {half tumtng and speaking in still 
feeble tones) 
Come in! 

{J'he door opens and Chick Avery eyiters. Lucy 
Belle struggles to her feet.) 

CHICK 

Back agin — 1 

LUCY BELLE 

Oh — er — ! Did'n' take yo' long — . 

CHICK 

No rooms at de Gran' Imperial. Gwine on out 
ter mah broder's. 

{He directs a fascinated gaze at her for a brief in- 
terval, as though half-tempted to make another 
ardent and forcible appeal. He thinks better of it, 
however, and starts to reach for the suit case.) 
1 20 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE (in tremulous^ half -hysterical tones) 

Chick—! 
CHICK {straightening, up) 

Yas— ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Reckon yo' kin have dat room. 
CHICK {incredulously) 
Wat—? 

LUCY BELLE 

I — I'll rent it ter yo'. 
CHICK {as though he could hardly believe his ears) 
Luce — ! 

{She half turns away from him and gazes before 
her with a face full of woe.) 

CURTAIN 



121 



ACT III 

The same as Act II — a year a?id a half later. 

It is early evening and the lamp on the table is 
lighted. The chimney is badly smoked and the 
guttering flames cast eerie shadows about on the 
walls. 

Aunt Rebecca is discovered seated to Right of table. 
Lucy Belle is seated near her^ Right Center ^ and is 
noticeably thinner and more wan than in the pre- 
ceding act. On the floor at her side sits a large 
basket, full of washing and on a chair nearby lies 
her coat and hat. 

The imposing cupboard which formerly stood against 
the wall, Left, and the large easy chair are missing. 

LUCY BELLE 

'Deed, we done miss yo' while yo's sick. 
AUNT REBECCA {shaking her head) 
Don' wan' no mo' spells like dat. 

LUCY BELLE 

No, indeedy! I reckon not. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Been six yeahs since rheumetiz took me down 
like dat. 

LUCY BELLE 

Git yo' hard w'en it do. 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Deed it do, 'deed it do! 

122 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Mighty sorry I did'n' git in ter see yo' mo* den 
I did. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat's all right. I ain' boderin' 'bout dat at all. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' — yo' see, Fse so busy wid mah wuk, an' 
lookin' aftah thin's 'roun de house — an' — an' 
de baby. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yas, yas — honey. I knows how it is. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' 'souse me a minute, won' yo'? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sartainly, sartainly. 

LUCY BELLE 

Got ter run 'roun' ter Miss Erminie's wid dis 
yere washin'. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sho' — sho', honey! Yo' go right 'long. Don' 
yo' boder 'bout me. 

LUCY BELLE 

Only jes' 'roun' de corner. Be right back. 
{Rising and moving toward^ Left.) Reckon I 
bettah bring dat baby out yere. No tellin' 
w'at dem chillen liable ter do ter it while Fse 
gone. 

{She goes out. Left, and returns immediately 
carrying a very young Negro baby.) 

AUNT REBECCA {exclaiming) 

Mah soul, dat's a fine baby! Ain' he dough? 
Yo' wan' me ter hoi' him? 
123 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Ef yo' don* min' — till I gits back. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sho' ! Sho' ! {Lucy Belle places the baby in Aunt 
Rebecca s arms and the old woman gazes down 
at him admiringly^ Gawd-a-massy! Bless yo' 
heart! Ain' yo* mah lil' honey-boy? Smile at 
me — dat's it — smile! Ootchum-kootchum ! 
Ootchum — kootchum ! 

{Fanny and Israel run in. Left. Both wear 
nightgowns?) 

FANNY 

Mamma! Whar yo' all gwine? 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! Git me some candy! 
LUCY BELLE {sharply^ 

Yo' all hush! Git right back ter bed! Go 'long! 
FANNY {whimpering) 

I'se scar't ob de night doctahs. 

LUCY BELLE 

Hush, child! Night doctahs ain' gwine ter git 
yo' in yere. Go 'long! {Threateningly ^ D'yo' 
wan' me ter knock yo' haids off? 

ISRAEL 

Mamma! Git me — ! 

{Lucy Belle grabs them roughly and pushes them 
through the door. Left, and closes it after them. 
They cry for several moments and then gradually 
stop.) 
LUCY BELLE {with a Uttk sigh, as she comes back to 
Center) 

Reckon I bettah be on mah way. {Begin7ting 
124 



GOAT ALLEY 



to put on her hat and coat.) I ain' nevah had no 
luck. Some gals gits by widout no trouble at 
all. I ain' one-a dem kin'. Nuffin' I evah done 
come out right — nuffin' at all. Ef I starts 
anathin' it's boun' ter go wrong. I — I'se con- 
juhed fo' life. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Hush, chile! Don' git down in de mouf like 
dat. Yo' luck liable ter change any minute. 
Min' did aftah I gits rid-a dem warts. 

LUCY BELLE 

I ain' got no bus'ness wid all dese chillen. T'se 
a fool — Gawd knows I is. {tVistfully.) Ain' 
only one niggah evah treated me decent. Gawd 
knows, he treated me right! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' means Sam. {Lucy Belle nods.) Still in 
jail, ain' he.'' 
LUCY BELLE (nodding) 

Down in de penitentiary at Moun'sville. He 
kain't write, so I don' nevah yere from him. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Nevah min', he gwine ter come back someday. 

LUCY BELLE 

Gawd, I hope so! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Wat come dat yallow — um — lessee — w'at's his 
name — uster see him 'roun' yere — 

LUCY BELLE 

Chick Avery. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yas — Chick Avery. Dat who I means. 
125 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE [darkly) 

He git a job barbarin' on de boat dat run from 
New York ter Chawlston. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Go 'long — ! 
LUCY BELLE {bitterly) 

Been gone free mon's. I ain' seen nor yere from 
him since he leP. {She picks up the basket of 
clothes and goes to the door. Back.) Only be a 
minute, Aun' Becky. 

{Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle 
goes out. Back. Aunt Rebecca sits in brooding 
thought for a moment or two, then begins to chant 
to herself^ 

AUNT REBECCA 

Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — um 

— a — um — a — um — a! Trouble in mah 
soul ! Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a 
— um — a — um — a! Trouble in mah soul! Um 

— a — um — a — um — a — um — a! Trouble 
in mah soul ! {High treble?) Um — a — um — a — 
um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a! Trouble in 
mah soul ! Um — a — um — a — um — a — 



um — a — um — a — um — a 



{Footsteps and someone whistling are heard ojf 
stage. Back. Aunt Rebecca stops and listens. 
The door opens and Slim Dorsey enters. Back.) 

SLIM 

'Lo, Aun' Becky. Wat yo' all doin' yere? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Min'en de baby fo' Lucy Belle. 
126 



GOAT ALLEY 



SLIM 

Whar she ? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Takin' washin' 'roun' ter Miss Erminie's. 

{Slim takes a bag of tobacco and a pack of cigarette 
papers from his pocket and proceeds to roll a 
cigarette^ 

SLIM 

Dat gal ain' no good. She make twict as much 

ef she was ter wuk out. 
AUNT REBECCA {sharply) 

Wat kin*-a bruder is yo' ? Dat ain' no way ter 

talk. Wat she do wid de chillen — an' — an' dis 

yere baby? 
SLIM {licking the cigarette) 

Make a present ob 'em ter somebody. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Shame on yo' — shame on yo' — talkin' like dat! 
She do de bes' she kin! An' yo' jes' lay 'roun' 
an' let her keep yo'. 

SLIM 

Dat's a lie ! I wuks a damn sight harder den she 
do. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Whar yo' wuk? 

SLIM 

On de wharf — shuckin' oysters. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat steady? 

SLIM 

Steady in season. I fishes w'en I ain' wukkin' 
dere. Dat's why we move ovah yere from 
127 



GOAT ALLEY 



Carter Street — ter be handy ter de rivah. Don' 
yp' all go lyin' 'bout me livin' off Lucy Belle, — 
'less yo' lookin' fo' trouble. 

{Aunt Rebecca glowers at him and remains silent 
for a brief interval. Slim lights his cigarette and 
sits astride a chair, with the back to the front?) 

AUNT REBECCA {at length) 
She got too many chillen. 

SLIM 

Ain' nobody knows dat bettah den I do. No 
niggah an' gwine ter take up wid her now. 
Mink Hall was crazy fo' ter marry her one time. 
Huh — he wouldn' look sideways at her now ef 
he was ter pass her in de street. 

{The wind blows and whistles through the cracks. 
Aunt Rebecca straightens up stiffly and rolls her 
eyes.) 

AUNT REBECCA {in loWy frightened toncs) 

Gawd-a-massy! Yo' ain' gwine ter git me — yo* 
ole hussy! 

SLIM 

Wat's de mattah? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Dat's Lil Mundy tryin' ter git back at me. 
SLIM {with a derisive laugh) 
Wat fo'? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Fo' kickin' dat ole dog ob hers off mah do'step. 

{Lucy Belle enters. Back, carrying the empty 
basket?) 

128 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA {exclaiming) 

Lan' sake, chile! It ain' takin' yo' long. 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' see me wastin' no time on a night like dis. 
(Giving Slim a stony stare.) 'Lo, Slim. {She 
drops the basket near the door^ and removes her hat 
and coat.) 
SLIM {jumping up and going to her quickly) 
Luce — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat—? 

SLIM 

Sam's yere! 
LUCY BELLE {blankly y as she searches his face) 
Wat d'yo' mean? 

SLIM 

He's back yere in Wash'nin'. 

LUCY BELLE {with a gttSp) 

Oh, Gawd! {Comes down to Right Center and 
drops her hat and coat on a chair.) 

SLIM 

Mink Hall jes' seen him uptown. He stops in 
Seventh Street ter buy yo' all somefin'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Whar did yo* see Mink? 

SLIM 

On de wharf. Jes' come ovah dere from up- 
town. Sam tol' him dat he comin' right on out 
yere. 
LUCY BELLE {with d cry of ecstasy) 

Sam! Mah Sam-boy! {Then in tones tremulous 
with emotion.) How did he git out so soon? 
9 129 



GOAT ALLEY 



SLIM 

Got his sentence cut short fo' bein good — like I 
done toF yo' he might. 
LUCY BELLE {agitatedly) 
Wat — w'at did Mink say ter him — 'bout me? 

SLIM 

Nuffin', I reckon — 'Cept dat he ain' seen yo' in 
a good while — an' dat yo' still livin' yere in 
Goat Alley. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' — yo' ain' nevah tol' Mink dat I — I got — 

SLIM 

Yo' mean' 'bout de baby? {She nods.) No, 
no! Wat I tell him dat fo'? 
LUCY BELLE {ifi camest entreaty) 
Slim — Slim — ! Go down ter end ob de alley — 
dere by de stable. Sam gwine ter come in dat 
way sho' as yo' bawn ef he been up on Seventh 
Street. Ketch him dere — an' take him ovah 
ter Gerner's. Say dat I gone ovah ter Mag's 
an' dat I be back late ternight. 

SLIM 

I ain' boderin' 'bout him. 

LUCY BELLE 

Slim, please, honey ! Won'yo'? Dat ain' gwine 
ter hurt yo'. {She pulls up her skirt, reaches 
down in her stocking and pulls out a dollar bill?) 
Yere! {She hands it to Slim.) Please — jes' dis 
onct! Won' yo' — ? {He slowly nods, and starts 
toward the door. She calls after him. He halts 
and turns.) Slim, don' tell him whar I is. Jes' — 
jes' say I'se gone away — an' dat I won' be back 
130 



GOAT ALLEY 



till in de mawnin'. Yo' yere? Say yo 'don' 
know whar I is! 

SLIM 

All right. {He goes out. Back.) 
LUCY BELLE {tuming to Aufit Rebecca) 

I — I did'n' have no kin'-a idea Sam 'ud git out 
so soon. {Rapturously) Sam! Mah, Sam! 
{J^hen fearfully.) But — but I kain't see him yet 
— no, no — ! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Now, now — ! Don' yo' git yo'se'f in no stew. 
LUCY BELLE {wringing her hands) 

I tol' yo' I ain' nevah had no luck! Wat kin' a 
po' gal like me do? Yo' — yo' see I got dis yere 
baby. It — it's free mon's ole, now. Ef — ef he 
see dat — Oh, Gawd! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' reckon — ! 

LUCY BELLE 

He'd kill me — sho' as yo' bawn! Yo' see — yo' 
see, his time was'n' up fo' mos' anoder yeah. 
Him a' me ain' nevah had no luck an' I did'n' t 
calc'late he'd git out befo'. I — I was gwine ter 
git ready an' move in 'bout six mon's. Den I 
was gwine ter writ ter de Warden — or de keeper 
— or somebody like dat an' git dem ter tell him 
whar I move ter. {Moving about agitatedly) 
Ef he only knowed what I been up agin ! I — I 
promised him I would'n' look at anabody else 
while he was ,gone. Ef I'd-a had any kin'a- 
luck nuffin' 'ud make me break it. I loves Sam. 
I loves him bettah den anathin' in de worl'. He 
knows I does. {A moments pause. Her eyes 

I"xl 



GOAT ALLEY 



rove space.) Las' wintah I could'n' git nuffin' 
much ter do — dat is nuffin' dat pay me much 
money — an' I had trouble rentin' dat room — . 
{She pauses for a moment J and drops her eyes, then 
goes on slowly.) Chick Avery comes 'roun' — yo* 
know — an' I let's him stay yere — {She pauses 
again, and then points at the baby.) Dat's his 
chile. 
AUNT REBECCA {in heartfelt sympathy) 
Yo' po', po' honey! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wen me an' Sam fust met up he says, "Lucy 
Belle, I don' care nuffin' at all 'bout w'at yo* 
done fo' I knowed yo'. Dat's all pas' an' gone 
an' somefin' we ain' gwine ter boder our haids 
'bout." {She stares into space with tragic eyes.) 
But — but he tol' me onct dat ef I evah had ana- 
thin' ter do wid anoder niggah he'd kill me. 

AUNT REBECCA 

He ain' gwine ter do nuffin' like dat! Don' yo' 
worry ! 
LUCY BELLE {with a faint, wistful smile) 

He's de onlies' niggah dat evah done anathin' 
much fo' me. Mah own Sam-boy, baby buddy ! 
{She stares abstractedly into space for a moment or 
two.) An' — an' yo' see he's comin' right back ter 
me — now he's out. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yas, indeedy! I reckon he is! 
LUCY BELLE {ckncMng her hands) 
Oh, Gawd! 

132 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Nevah yo' min', honey. Yo' ain' got nuffin' ter 
worry 'bout. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sam nevah boder his haid 'bout oder gals — not 
since he know me — 'cept ole Lizzie Gibbs fo' a 
lir while — {Fearfully.) Dat's de onlies' thin' 
I'se scar't of — is dat niggahs will lie an' black- 
guard on me! 
AUNT REBECCA {indicating the baby) 
Who all know yo' got dis yere chile? 

LUCY BELLE 

Only two or free people yere in Goat Alley — an' 
Slim an' Mag an' yo'. Mag's mah frien' ovah 
in Anacostia. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Ef I did'n' have dem gran'chillen I'd keep de 
baby fo' yo'. 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Would'n' wan' yo' ter do nuffin' like 
dat. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Wat yo' calc'late yo' do? 

LUCKY BELLE 

I don' know, I don' know! I kin take him ovah 
ter Mag's — but even ef I does — she kain't keep 
him long — an' — {Pacing about agitatedly.) 
I — I'se got ter do somefin' quick! {In anguish^ 
I ain' done no mo' den oder gals — an' — an' — 
Sam got ter fo'give me! 

{A knock sounds on the door^ Back. Lucy Belle 
starts.) 

^33 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {in low tofies to Aunt Rebecca) 
Take him in dere. {She points of. Left.) 

{Aunt Rebecca rises with the baby and goes out 
hurriedly. Left.) 

LUCY BELLE {as AuHt Rcbccca leaves) 
Come in! 

{The door. Back, opens and Lizzie Gibbs enters. 
She wears no hat and has a light shawl thrown 
over her shoulders) 

^LYULY^ {slouching in) 
To! 

LUCY BELLE {starts back with a look of consterna- 
tion) 
To—! 

LIZZIE 

H'yo'— ? 
LUCY BELLE {brusqucly) 
Fine an' dandy! 

LIZZIE 

I reckon yo' is! Thought I'd jfin' yo' flyin' 

'roun' wid yo' eyes poppin' out-a yo' haid. 
LUCY BELLE {with Studied complacency) 

I don' know w'at yo' all talkin' 'bout. 
LIZZIE {with a loud, sarcastic laugh) 

Ha! Ha! Ain' got nuffin' on yo' min' — huh? 
LUCY BELLE {defiantly) 

Not a thin' ! 

LIZZIE 

Good frien* ob yo's back in town. 

LUCY BELLE 

Now yo* said somefin'. Who? 
134 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE {darkly) 

Dat's right — preten' yo' don' know nuffin' 'bout 
it — yo' damn lil' hussy! 

LUCY BELLE {JlOtly) 

Don' yo' call me no hussy! 

LIZZIE 

Don' yo' stan' up dere an' tell me yo' don' 

know Sam Reed ain' home. 
LUCY BELLE {simulating great suvprise) 

Sam! No! Is yo' seen him? 
LIZZIE {mysteriously) 

Ha! Ha! I guess he don' fo'git ole frien's. 
LUCY BELLE {ifi shurp derisioYi) 

Huh! I bet yo' ain'! I bet yo' all I got yo' 

ain'! 

LIZZIE 

Yo' all got de idee yo' got some kin'-a strangle 
hoi' on Sam, ain' yo'? 

LUCY BELLE {hotly) 

I knows damn well he ain' gwine ter fool 'roun' 
an' ole wench like yo' ! 
LIZZIE {menacingly) 

Ef yo' say anathin' like dat agin I bus' yo' in de 
mouf! {Lucy Belle gives an explosive^ con- 
temptuous laugh.) Lemme tell yo', gal, I knows 
a thin' or two 'bout yo'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' but w'at yo' make up out-a yo' own 
haid. 

LIZZIE 

Gawd knows, how many times I see yo' on de 
street las' wintah wid Chick Avery. 

135 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {angrily) 
Yo'nevah! Yo' lie! 

LIZZIE {with a savage laugh) 

Oh, yas, yo' lil' angel face! Yo' nevah done 
nuffin' wrong in yo' life! {Darkly.) Lemme tell 
yo' one thin' ! Keep yo' han's off dat niggah — 
dis time! Ef I yere yo' been foolin' roun' aftah 
him I'se gwine ter raise some hell. {She turns 
toward the door^ Back.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' won' do nuffin'! 
LIZZIE {wheeling around) 

Ask anabody dat knows me ef I don' alias make 
good ! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' ain' gwine ter do nuffin'! 
LIZZIE {at the door) 
Ain' I? Yo' wait an' see! I'se gwine ter make 
dat face-a yo's look like a piece-a sausage. Don' 
yo' come tryin' ter play any ob dat doll-baby 
bus'ness wid me! Ha! Ha! Yo' damn lil' 
hussy, yo' ! {She goes out. Back.) 

{Lucy Belle stands gazing angrily after her. Aunt 
Rebecca enters. Left.) 

AUNT REBECCA 

Whew-me! Gawd-a-massy! Sweah out a war- 
rant fo' her! Go 'long! Don' yo' let no niggah 
blackguard yo' like dat. 

LUCY BELLE 

I'll git her mahse'f — an' ef I don', Sam will. 
{Fiercely.) Some night I ketch her alone an* 
136 



GOAT ALLEY 



knock her haid off! 'Deed, I'se gwine ter clean 
up fo' her right! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Low down y all aw wench! 
LUCY BELLE {wuh a little wail of despair) 
Now, right 'way, she got ter come mixin' in 
agin. {Fiercely^ I done took all I'se gwine ter 
off her! {Moviy^g about agitatedly ^ 'Deed, I is! 
Wat she anaway? Stuck up kase she got 
straight hair. Nevah done a I'ck-a wuk in her 
life. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Hush, honey ! Ain* no use ter git all wukked up ! 
LUCY BELLE {with an hysterical laugh) 

Ha! Ha! She think she kin keep Sam 'way 
from me! I like ter see her! I like ter see her! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Nevah yo' min'! Nevah yo' min'l 

{A knock on the door. Back. Lucy Belle and Aunt 
Rebecca start) 

LUCY BELLE {calling out in tremulous tones) 

Who dat? 
SAM {of. Back) 

Me—! 
LUCY BELLE {with a gasp) 

It Sam—! 

{She motions to Aunt Rebecca to leave the room. 
The old woman goes of hurriedly. Left. Lucy 
Belle stands hesitant. A look of dire fear comes 
over her face, and she appears to be on the verge 
of collapse. However, with an ejffort she controls 
137 



GOAT ALLEY 



herself and goes uncertainly to the door^ Back^ and 
opens it, Sam steps in. He looks older and thin- 
ner than in Act I and his hair is streaked with 
grayy and his shoulders are a trifle more stooped than 
before. He wears a dark suit of clothes — the sort 
furnished to prisoners on the occasion of their 
. release — a collar^ but no tie, and he carries a small 
bundle under one arm. In one hand he carries 
his hat.) 

SAM {springing forward with a cry of joy) 

Gal—! 
LUCY BELLE {rushing to him) 

Sam! 

{He tosses his hat and the bundle on the table, takes 
her in his arms and smothers her with kisses.) 

SAM 

Honey-baby! Honey-baby! 

LUCY BELLE {murmuring softly) 
Baby! Baby! 

SAM 

Yo* ain' fo'got yo' ole Sam, is yo' ? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Oh, Sam, Sam! Mah ole Sam-boy! 
{Clinging tightly to him.) Oh, I'se so glad ter 
see yo'! Gawd bless yo'! 

SAM 

Honey-baby! Honey-baby! 

LUCY BELLE 

Ole Sam-boy! Mah honey-baby buddy-boy! 
I'se so glad ter see yo'! 

SAM 

Yo' all did'n' 'spec' me, did yo'? 
13B 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Did'n' have no idea in de worl' I'se 
gwine ter see yo' so soon. Not till jes' a minute 
ago. Slim come an' tol' me. He say Mink Hall 
tol' him. 
SAM {nodding) 

Yas — I seen Mink uptown. 

LUCY BELLE 

Ah, Sam-boy! Mah budigee lovah! Yo' ain' 
nevah gwine ter leave me agin, is yo' ? 

SAM 

Nevah, honey! No, indeedy! Not 'less dey 
takes me 'way in a box. 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo's de bes' ole buddy in de worl'! 

SAM 

Seem ter me like I only had ter shet mah eyes — 
night or day — an' see yo' face. Only thinkin' 
'bout yo' kep' me from killin' ev'body in sight 
w'en I'se breakin' mah back on dem rock piles. 
Yo' don' know w'at kin'-a hell I been th'u', gal. 
Kin'-a hell dat sets a man crazy — 'less he's 
careful. 

LUCY BELLE 

I knows, I knows. Mus'-a been turrible! Tur- 
rible! Oh, Gawd! 

SAM 

Yo' all stay right on yere — all de time ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas. Calc'lated ter move two or free times 
but could'n' fin' nuffin' ter suit me. 
SAM {glancing about the room and noting that the 
cupboard and large easy chair are missing) 

^29 



GOAT ALLEY 



Whar's de cupboard — an' — an' dat ole easy 
chaiah? 

LUCY BELLE 

I — I sol' 'em. 

SAM 

Sol' 'em—! 

LUCY {with a catch in her voice) 

I — I was broke dere fo' a while — an' I had ter. 

SAM {in tones of heartfelt sympathy) 

Yo* po' kid ! {Stroking her hair.) Dat's all right. 
We ain' gwine ter boder nuffin' 'bout dat. 
{Studying her face intently.) Yo' lookin' mighty- 
thin. 

LUCY BELLE 

I'se been wukkin' hard, Sam. 'Tain't so easy 
fo' a gal alone — an' — an' — wid two chillen. 

SAM 

I know it ain', honey-baby. Nevah min' — yo' 
ain' gwine ter wuk hard no mo'. 
LUCY BELLE {eagerly) 

Sam — Sam-boy — le's me an' yo' git 'way from 
yere — ! 

SAM 

Wat yo' mean — from Wash'nin' — ? 

LUCY BELLE 

Yas, yas. From dis ole hard-luck town! 
SAM {nodding) 
We study 'bout dat d'rectly. 

LUCY BELLE 

Le's go ter Baltimo'. Dey was mo' wuk w'en 
yo' was ovah dere befo' — an' dey paid bettah 
wages. 

1 40 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

Don' know how it is now. 

LUCY BELLE 

Jes' de same — ev'ybody tell me. An' — an' ef 
we stay yere, honey — de ^o-lice be aftah yo' all 
de time. 

SAM 

No dey won'. 

LUCY BELLE 

Dey will — yo' knows dey will. Ev'y time dey's 
a lir trouble dey gwine ter pick yo' up. An' — 
an' me an' yo' ain' nevah had no luck in dis 
town. Befo' we was gwine ter Baltimo' jes' as 
soon as yo' got a steady job — an' den — at las' 
we was gwine anaway. Ef — ef we'd picked 
right up an' wen' at fust ole JefF Bisbee 'ud 
nevah come foolin' 'roun' — an' yo'd nevah wen' 
ter jail — would yo'.^ 

SAM 

I reckon not. 

LUCY BELLE 

I knows yo' would'n'. Aftah all de trouble we 
had yere — I hates dis place — ! I gotta feelin' 
dat nuffin' ain' gwine ter come right long as we 
stay yere. I wan's ter git 'way! Le's don' wait 
dis time. Le's git 'way fo' any ob dat ole hard 
luck begin! 

SAM 

Lemme git rested up a lil' — an' den — 

LUCY BELLE 

Baby, le's git out right away — jes' as quick as we 
kin. Mah monf yere ain' up till nex' week 
but I don' care. Le's pack up an' beat it — an' 
141 



GOAT ALLEY 



git 'way from all dat hard luck — an' po-lice an' 

lyin' an' blackguardin' niggahs. Won' yo', 

honey-baby? Termorrer or nex' day — de 

quicker de bettah. 
SAM (nodding) 

All right, lil' gal. Ef dat's w'at yo' wan's, I 

reckon we'll do it. 
LUCY BELLE (throwing her arms about him) 

Baby, baby! Gawd bless yo'! Mah Sam-boy! 

Mah Sam-boy! 

(Aunt Rebecca enters. Left.) 

LUCY BELLE (breaking away from Sam) 
Oh, Aun' Becky ! Glad ter see yo' ! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Sam! Gawd bless yo'! 

SAM 

H'yo' all been? 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Tolable! 'Tolable! Down wid rheumatiz fo' a 
while — but I'se all right now. Mighty glad 
yo's out. 

SAM 

I'se mighty glad ter be out. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Mus' 'souse me. I got ter git home an' cook 
some suppah fo' mah ole man. 

LUCY BELLE 

Don' run 'way, Aun' Becky. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Mus', mah chile! See yo' some mo! 

SAM 

Goodbye. 

142 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Aunt Rebecca goes outy Back.) 

LUCY BELLE {moving toward the Left) 
Honey-baby, 'scuse me a minute. 

SAM 

Whar yo' gwine? 
LUCY BELLE {nodding toward Left) 
In yere. Be right back. 

{Sam nods. She goes outy Left. Sam moves 
slowly and thoughtfully about the room. Pres- 
ently a loud knock sounds on the door. Back. As 
he nears it, it opens and Lizzie Gibbs rushes in.) 

lAzziE {halting abruptly) 
Sam! 

SAM 

Wat in hell is yo* doin' yere? 

LIZZIE 

Well — Sam! So — so yo's out again! Mah soul, 
but I'se damn glad ter see yo! 

SAM 

Wat d'yo' wan' ? D'yo' yere me? 
LIZZIE {ingratiatingly) 
Sam, kid — come on wid me — fo' a good time! 
Le's cel'brate! 

SAM 

Ef yo' keep foolin' 'roun* me, yo's gwine ter git 
hurt. 

LIZZIE 

Sam — Sam, ole boy — now hones', w'at is I evah 
done ter make yo' treat me like yo' has ? 

SAM 

Go 'long! Git out-a yere! 
H3 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE {with a show of anger) 

Yo's a damn fool fo' stickin' ter dis gal. She 

don' mean yo' no good. 
SAM {menacingly) 

Shet up! 

LIZZIE 

She don' care nuffin' 'bout yo'! 

SAM {stepping toward her) 
Wan' me ter bus' yo' in de mouf .f* 

LIZZIE {ingratiatingly again) 
Sam — I'se gwine ter git a good job uptown — 
Monday. I'll keep yo' dis wintah, ole kiddo. 
Yo' won' haf ter do no wuk. Should think yo' 
wan' ter take it easy — fo' a while — now yo' 
out-a jail. Don' yo'.? I'll show yo' a good time, 
son. Yo' kin lay 'roun' an' take it easy — an* 
git drunk w'en yo'-a min' ter — 

SAM 

Git out-a yere! 

LIZZIE 

Sam, I don' wan* ter see nobody like yo' git tied 
up agin wid a wench like her. Onct was 'nuff — 
but — 

SAM 

Git out-a yere — d'yo' yere me? Beat it! 
LIZZIE {angrily) 

Yo's a great big stiff ter let a gal like her take 
yo' in. 

{The door^ Left, opens slightly and Lucy Belle can 
be seen listening^ 

SAM {savagely) 
Shet up! 

144 



GOAT ALLEY 



LIZZIE 

Why, she been runnin' 'roun' wid Chick Avery 
— evah since yo' lef. Ha! Ha! 

SAM 

Dat's a lie! 

LIZZIE 

So he'p me Gawd, dat's de truf — an' I kin prove 
it! 
SAM {menacingly) 
It's a lie! 

LIZZIE 

She bleed yo* ter deaf an* den tuhn yo' loose. 

I'se tellin' yo'! 
SAM {hitting her on the jaw) 

Shet up! Yo' blackguardin' hussy! 
LIZZIE {shrieking) 

Murder! Murder! Po-lice! Po-lice! Murder! 

{Sam darts out the door. Back. Lucy Belle closes 
the door. Left. Hurried footsteps are heard of 
stage. Back. Lizzie glances out of the window. 
Left Back, gives a little gasp, looks wildly about 
for a place to hide, runs to the closet door, opens 
it, darts in and pulls it shut after her. A police- 
man enters. Back.) 

POLICEMAN {calling out) 
What's the trouble here? 

{He stands looking about the room for a moment 
or two, then advances toward the door. Left. It 
suddenly opens and Lucy Belle enters.) 

POLICEMAN {gruffly) 
What's the matter? 

145 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE 

Nuffin' — nuffin' at all, sir. 

POLICEMAN 

There was so ! {Striding over to her.) Who was 
thatyellin'^ 

LUCY BELLE 

I — I don' know, sir. It was'n' yere. 

POLICEMAN 

Stop your lyin'. I know better! 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Hones' ter Gawd! 

POLICEMAN 

Say — where d'yuh get that stuff? Don't yuh 
think I got ears? {Goes to the door^ Left.) 
Who's in here? 

LUCY BELLE 

Jes' mah chillen. 

{He goes out. Left. She stands watching him. In 
a moment he re-enters^ 

POLICEMAN {studying her with an ugly, menacing 
look) 
I've a good mind to lock you up anyway. 

LUCY BELLE {with a beseccMng wail) 
Oh — , oh, please sir, — I ain' done nuffin'! 

POLICEMAN {as he moves toward the door. Back) 
Yuh better watch your step. I ain't goin' to 
stand for no skylarkin' around this neighbor- 
hood. 

{He goes out. Back, and closes the door after him. 
Lucy Belle turns and goes off hurriedly. Left. 
She re-enters immediately carrying the baby in her 
146 



GOAT ALLEY 



arms and starts toward the door. Back. A second 
later Fanny — in her nightgown — runs in, Left.) 

FANNY 

Mamma! 

LUCY BELLE 

Hush, chile! 

FANNY 

Whar yo* gwine? 

LUCY BELLE 

Gwine ter take de baby ovah ter yo' Aun' 
Becky's. Git right back ter bed. Go 'long! 

{Fanny goes out. Left, closing the door after her. 
Lucy Belle starts again toward the door. Back. 
Lizzie steps abruptly out from the closet.) 

LIZZIE {with a sardonic leer) 

So dat's yo' baby, is it? 
LUCY BELLE {halting with a* startled cry) 

Oh! Oh, mah Gawd! 

LIZZIE 

I knowed I'd git yo'! Pretendin' ter be such a 
111' angel! Ha! Ha! Been up ter all kin'-a 
tricks, ain' yo'? 

LUCY BELLE 

Git out-a yere! 
LIZZIE {slouching slowly toward the door. Back) 
I got yo' numbah, now — yo' lil' rat! Ha! Ha! 

LUCY BELLE 

Wat in hell d'yo' mean? It ain' mah chile! 

LIZZIE 

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ain' yo' chile! Ain' yo' chile! 
Yo's a good lil' liah, ain' yo'? 

HI 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {passionutely defiant) 
No — it ain' — yo' blackguardin' hussy! 

LIZZIE 

Ha! Ha! It sartainly do look like Chick — jes* 
'zactly. Wait till I tells Sam. He one-a dem 
kin' dat ain' so partic'lar. He don' min' acci- 
dents now an' den. Ha! Ha! {She goes out. 
Back.) 

{Lucy Belle stands staring tragically to the front. 
Suddenly a look of desperation comes into her 
face and she dashes out. Back. Presently Aunt 
Rebecca enters. Back, and looks inquiringly 
about.) 

AUNT REBECCA {calling) 

Lucy Belle ! Oh, Lucy Belle ! 
{Fanny runs in. Left.) 

FANNY 

Mamma gwine ovah ter yo' house wid de baby. 
AUNT REBECCA {nonplusscd) 
Mah house! 

FANNY 

Dat w'at she say. 

AUNT REBECCA 

'Deed, chile, yo' all mus' been dreamin'. 
FANNY {with a whimper) 

Den — den I don' know whar she is. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yo' been dreamin'. Go 'long back ter bed. 

{Fanny reluctantly leaves. Left. Aunt Rebecca 
sits down in a chair and chants to herself^ 
148 



GOAT ALLEY 



AUNT REBECCA 

Devil gwine ter git yo'! Um — a — um — a — um 
— a — um — a — um — a — um — a! Devil gwine ter 
git yo'! Um — a — um — a — um — a — um — a — 
um — a! Devil gwine ter git yo'! 

{Suddenly Slim rushes in^ Back, breathing 
heavily and wild-eyed.) 

SLIM 

A-aun' Becky! 

AUNT REBECCA 

Yas! Yas! 

SLIM 

Lucy Belle drown de baby! 

AUNT REBECCA {jumping Up with a shriek) 
Oh! Oh, mahGawd! Oh, oh! 

SLIM {jerkily) 

Me an' Mink Hall — an' some oder niggahs — 
in a ga^ne ovah by dem coal chutes. She sneak 
'long by Graley's ice house — den run out on de 
wharf an' th'u it in. Me an' Mink seen ef we 
would save it — but it was'n' no use. It — it was 
too da'k. Soon as 'Luce seen me she run' as fas' 
as she coul'. I believe she gone plum crazy. 

AUNT REBECCA 

Gawd-a-massy! Gawd-a-massy! Datpo' chile! 
I knowed somefin' turrible gwine ter happen. 

SLIM 

Yo' — yo* ain' seen her, is yo'? 

AUNT REBECCA 

Gawd-a-massy, no! 

SLIM 

Come on ! Le's see ef we kin fin' her. 
149 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Aunt Rebecca and Slim go out^ Back. In the 
course of a brief interval Lucy Belle enters stealth- 
ily ^ Backj — dishevelled and terrified. She moves 
agitatedly about the room, twining and intertwin- 
ing her fingers. Presently Sam enters. Back.) 

SAM 

Lucy Belle! 
LUCY BELLE {in tremulous tones — as she pulls her- 
self together with a mighty effort) 
Sam-boy! 

SAM 

Was'n' gwine ter take no chances. 

LUCY BELLE {avoiding his dircct gazc) 
No, no! Honey-baby! Mah ole budigee honey- 
baby! I'se so scar't I did'n' know w'at ter do. 

SAM {sharply) 
Yo* yere w'at she was tellin' me? 

LUCY BELLE {lying) 
I yere jes' a lil'. 

SAM {fiercely) 

She say yo' all been foolin' 'roun' wid Chick 
Avery. 

LUCY BELLE 

It's a lie! Ain' a wud ob truf in it! 
SAM {grabbing her and searching her face with a gaze 
of tense scrutiny) 
Have yo'? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! Sam! Fo' Gawd's sake! Yo' don* 
believe a devil like her, d'yo' ? 
150 



GOAT ALLEY 



SAM 

Ef I ketches yo' runnin' wid anabody else I'se 
gwine ter kill yo' ! 
LUCY BELLE {passionutely) 

Sam-boy! Hones' ter Gawd — I ain' had nuffin' 
ter do wid nobody since yo' been gone! Nuffin' 
at all! Yo' believe yo' lil' budigee, don' yo'? 
Don' yo', honey-baby? 

{Lizzie enters. Back.) 

LIZZIE {with a cry of triumph) 
I knowed I'd git yo' numbah! 

SAM 

Git out-a yere! D'yo' wan' me ter kill yo'? 

LIZZIE 

Sam — Sam — she got-a baby! It Chick Avery's. 
It's yere! Dat's de way she treat yo' all! Ha! 
Ha! Makin' a damn fool ob yo'! I alias 
knowed yo's an easy mark! 
LUCY BELLE {scrcaming) 

It's a lie! It's a lie! Don' yo' believe her, Sam! 

{Sam starts J or Lizzie. She backs out of the door. 
Back.) 

hizTA'E {just outside of the doorway — at the top of her 
voice) 

I tol' yo' I'd git yo'! I tol' yo' I'd git yo'! 
Ha! Ha! 

{Sam starts to rush out after her. He hesitates, 
however, and finally bangs the door shut and turns 
to Lucy Belle.) 

SAM {fiercely) 
Yo' yere w'at she say? 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {palsied with fear) 

It ain' so! It's a lie! Yo' knows she could'n' 
tell de truf! She nuffin' but a dirty, lyin' 
hussy — ! Yo' don' believe her, do yo'? 

SAM {harshly) 

Lemme look 'roun' yere! 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' no use, honey. Yo' ain' gwine ter see 
nuffin'. 

SAM {shoving her aside roughly) 
Lemme look! {He starts toward Left.) 

LUCY BELLE 

Ain' nobody but Fanny an' Israel in dere! 
SAM {loudly) 

Ef yo' try any funny bus'ness wid me I'll kill 
yo'! Damn yo' heart ter hell! 

{He goes outy Left, closely followed by Lucy Belle. 
The door stands open and their voices can be 
heard.) 

LUCY BELLE {o_ff Stage, Left) 

See, Sam — ain' nobody but Fanny an' Israel. 
Don' wake 'em up! Jes' mah clothes, Sam-boy! 
Aw, yo' believes me — don' yo'? Yo' don' be- 
lieve an' ole wench like her! 

SAM {savagely) 

Chick Avery been hangin' 'roun' yere? 

LUCY BELLE 

No, no! He ain' even in town no mo'. It's all 
a dirty lie! Lizzie alias blackguardin' me — 
don' yo' know she is — evah since yo' an' me 
met up! She say anathin' — anathin' at all ter 
git back at me. 

152 



GOAT ALLEY 



{They re-enter^ Left.) 

SAM {grabbing her by the shoulder and swinging her 
around J ull-J ace to him) 
Yo' is seen Chick Avery! 

LUCY BELLE 

No — no — I ain' — sweah ter Gawd I ain'! Aw, 
Sam, yo' believes yo' honey-baby, don' yo' ? 

{A tense pause. He stares down at her as though 
trying to read the truth in her eyes.) 

SAM {at length) 

Ef she keep on blackguardin' yo', I'se gwine ter 
kill her! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' ain' gwine ter boder 'bout her — or nobody, 
Sam-boy! We gwine ter git 'way from all dem 
ole niggahs like her — quick as we kin! Ain' we, 
honey-baby? {Fondly.) Bes' ole buddy in de 
worl'! I wan's yo', Sam — jes' yo' — nuffin' else. 
SAM {muttering) 

I'll clean up fo' dat gal! 

LUCY BELLE 

Yo' loves me, don' yo'? 
SAM {impulsively taking her in his arms and clasping 
her tightly to him) 

Yo's all I got in de worl'! Ef yo' fools me, I'll 
tuhn bad fo' life. 

LUCY BELLE 

Sam, mah budigee baby, mah ole Sam-boy baby! 
Ain' nuffin' on Gawd's earf I would'n' do fo' 
yo'! {Earnestly^ as she stares up into his face.) 
Yo' an' me's gwine ter Baltimo' right 'way quick 
— ain' we? 

153 



GOAT ALLEY 



{Sam nods.) 

SAM {fondly) 

Honey-baby! Honey-baby! 

{Aunt Rebecca rushes in excitedly. Back.) 

AUNT REBECCA 

Lucy Belle! Mah Gawd! Lucy Belle! Is yo' 
crazy? Dey fish him out — de baby! Oh, mah 

Gawd! 

{Lucy Belle gives a stifled cry and breaks away 
from Sam.) 

SAM 

Baby! Wat d'yo' mean? 

{A tense silence of several seconds. At length Sam 
divines her meaning. Aunt Rebecca staggers back 
— under the stress of the sudden realization of what 
the consequences of her revelation are likely to be. 
Lucy Belle stands at one side, moaning softly. 
Sam rushes at Aunt Rebecca, hits her and knocks 
her out through the door. Back. She screams. He 
rushes over, closes the door and locks it.) 

SAM {rushing at Lucy Belle) 

Damn yo' black heart ter hell! {She gives an 

unearthly shriek^ Yo' will double-cross me! 

Dis is de way yo' pays me fo' all I done fo' yo' ! 
LUCY BELLE {dropping to her knees) 

Sam — Sam-boy — listen! Lemme tell yo'! Oh, 

Gawd! It ain' — 
SAM {grabbing her) 

I'll show yo' how ter play dat kin*-a game! 
154 



GOAT ALLEY 



LUCY BELLE {frantically) 
Sam! Sam! 

SAM 

I'll fix yo'! 

{He takes her by the throat and slowly chokes her 
to death. She struggles desperately to free herself. 
At length she grows quiet and her body limp. He 
throws her on the floor ., stands gazing at her for a 
moment or twoy grabs up his hat, slinks to the door^ 
Backy unlocks it^ opens it cautiously and goes out^ 
closing it after him.) 

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